Questions tagged [word-usage]
This tag is for questions about correctly using a word. The word has to be provided within the question. The question should be limited to the usage of one word. For the usage of complete phrases there is the tag phrase-usage.
9,395
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Is "farfel" an idiolectical quirk/part of a familect?
My whole life, my family has used "farfel" to refer to anything small, unwanted, usually fabric-based, and out of place (i.e., on the floor; not in the trash). Lint, a few millimeters of ...
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36
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What's the meaning of "burrish"? [closed]
As the title said, I wonder what's the meaning of burrish ?
11
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2
answers
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Why do we say "commit" a crime?
How did the word "commit" become so associated with performing a criminal act ("he committed a crime", "she committed a robbery" - also generally applies to errors, ...
- 275
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0
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Seeking clarification or options for Snoutband [duplicate]
I understand Snoutband refers to a person who often interrupts a conversation to correct and/or contradict the speaker. Could it also refer to a person who butts in AND has to out do the person ...
0
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When to use the possessive with 's in "Contact photo" or "contact's photo"? [duplicate]
"Click on a contact photo" or "click on a contact's photo"?
"The contact photo is there" or "the contact's photo is there"?
"It means the contact updated ...
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2
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4
answers
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"as tall as the building" or "as high as the building"
"The new building will be as tall as the Empire State Building" and "The new building will be as high as the Empire State Building." Which one is correct?
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Reasons for doing something and reasons to do something :do that make a difference? [duplicate]
You attended a XXX workshop...Your teacher has asked you to write a review…
The content should include:
…
The reasons for joining it
…
This is my writing task and I am pretty confused about ...
9
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3
answers
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What is the meaning of "Wa’al"?
What is the meaning of "Wa’al"?
Here is a quote from Charles Dickens' A Message from the Sea:
“Wa’al, my good sir,” said the captain cordially, “the present question is, and will be long, I ...
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0
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Using the terms gesture, gestural and gesturality
I am trying to understand the difference between, and I'm not sure how to describe it, something like: agree, agreeable and agreeability; approach, approachable and approachability etc...I'm ...
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1
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Is "bet" only used by vulgar people? [closed]
My cousin says "bet" is only used by vulgar people, and that "wager" is used by gentlemen. I disagree. We're talking about risking money on an outcome.
I wonder if the fine people ...
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1
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How common is “you lot” for a group of exactly two persons and under what circumstances can it be used as such if any?
Something about “you lot” tells me that it can't really be used with a group of two persons and requires a somewhat bigger group being addressed as a unit, to what extent is that correct and if not ...
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Is the statement, "pursuant Bachelors of Science: Computer Systems Engineering" proper English?
In a resume does it make sense to simply add the word pursuant in front of the degree to indicate that the degree was not obtained?
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1
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"He didn't know *families* had cooks."
(From A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe, Part II Cambridge Choir, chapter 25)
William, the chorister, is spending some of the Christmas holiday with his friend Martin Mussey's family.
'Flo, ...
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2
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73
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Why "when we first begun" in Amazing Grace?
In the hymn Amazing Grace, the final verse reads thus:
When we've been there 10,000 years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun
Given that we ...
7
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2
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338
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Why is “cold X” a bad thing and “hot X” a good thing in English?
There are many, many terms in English that include hot or cold in them. I will give a small sample of such terms:
Hot
hot job
hot fix
hot offer
warm regards
Cold
cold calls
cold emails
cold hearted
...
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