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40 votes
6 answers
36k views

What is the brown cardboard covering coffee cups called in English?

I recently got into an awkward situation when I wasn't able to ask for a 'warmth protector thingy' in Starbucks, and wasn't accurately able to describe it, so could someone tell me what you would call ...
Tyler's user avatar
  • 786
2 votes
1 answer
428 views

Present perfect vs past simple complex example

I have come across this question and locked up the internet for the answer but it is so complex to do such thing The students ______ (go) to America a few years ago. No one of them has completed his ...
Ghassan Saeed's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

In the storm Vs. by the storm

your hanging flower pots might get blown down in this storm. Could we use “by storm” instead of “in storm” ? Since the storm could blow down something, I think, it means we can use “by storm” ...
Bavyan Yaldo's user avatar
  • 3,037
2 votes
1 answer
34 views

application of the word 'vision' in writing reports

What are the differrences between "vision of" and "vision for"? If I want to use the word 'vision', is it right to say 'vision for the energy industry in the USA'? I think they use 'vision for' and ...
user66453's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
8k views

Does ‘Dear [surname]’s family’ sound friendly?

I’m writing a letter to my host family in Australia. They are a family of five and I’d like to write it in a friendly way. So, does the expression ‘Dear [surname]’s family’ sound friendly? I’d like ...
Olivia's user avatar
  • 35
1 vote
1 answer
56 views

What is the grammar of the sentence like "Deleting a node z from .." that usually accompanied with figures in textbook

When I am going to write some explanations in a step-by-step form that accompany with diagram, I found out it is difficult to decide what the subject is, for example: Calculate the sum. Maybe it ...
Carr's user avatar
  • 113
3 votes
1 answer
814 views

Could we say "honorable mentioned" to express "I have got honorable mention"?

When I wrote my CV, I found that I would like to say "Honorable Mention at Mathematical Contest in Modeling", but I put on "Honorable Mentioned" instead. After searching on the internet I found no one ...
alphazeta's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
100 views

Does "at all costs" work in this sentence?

I'll get a job this year at all(any) costs. From the dictionary definition of "at all costs" (regardless of the price to be paid or the effort needed), it seems right but I wasn't sure if this fits ...
dbwlsld's user avatar
  • 3,461
2 votes
1 answer
731 views

How to use the word 'suitable' properly?

Let's say, I'm exlaining a meaning of some words to someone giving specific situations as an example. And I want to say one of these sentences. "This word is more suitable to this situation." "This ...
user66449's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
40 views

"Gaining access" to cultural heritage

In my university application essay, I would like to indicate that by getting admission into the university, I'll "gain access" to the university's rich cultures and traditions, which are over a ...
Gaurang Tandon's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Which would be better? 'Last two weeks' or 'Take two weeks'

Sorry I will not able to check the attached reports because I have an important task to fulfill and that task might last two weeks. What it is better to say, 'last two weeks' or 'take two weeks'?
Michael Ramsis's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
246 views

I got paid "for" or "by" the job?

I got paid for my part time job. I got paid by my part time job. What I want to say here is "I got paid by working part time." I know I can just say "I got paid", but I want to say that I earned ...
dbwlsld's user avatar
  • 3,461
0 votes
1 answer
284 views

What does "should" mean in this sentence?

"why change in the independent variable should affect the dependent variable in a particular way. " Does it used to emphasize "affect"? Thanks.
user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
224 views

Present Simple Tense with For

Is it grammatically correct or colloquial to use "for" with present simple tense as in the following examples : I do this business for ten years. I teach Math for five years. I run this ...
Mrt's user avatar
  • 10.9k
3 votes
1 answer
384 views

"the whole thing isn't necessary" meaning not all is necessary?

I'm writing some technical explanation, and I've written this sentence The whole thing isn't necessary, we mostly use what's in the devices folder. This should mean that not everything is necessary ...
Nico's user avatar
  • 133
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

How to refer to *one side* of headphones?

How to refer to one side of headphones? The word "headphones" is in only plural form, referring to two main components (speakers?) that are put in two ears. Now my question is how to refer to each ...
Virtuous Legend's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
105 views

I'll bring you to your mother's [duplicate]

I'll bring you to your mother's I'll take you to your mother's I am a bit confuse of these. Should it bring or take?
e12345678's user avatar
  • 607
1 vote
1 answer
78 views

word for hesitation, "well" or "actually"?

"Aren't you going home?" "Well, can I stay a little longer?" / "Actually, can I say a little longer?" Both "Well" and "Actually" work here? Do they have the same meaning?
dbwlsld's user avatar
  • 3,461
1 vote
1 answer
109 views

What is the difference between “advise” and “advice” [closed]

What is the difference between “advise” and “advice”
Lee Hnetinka's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
131 views

Third conditional statements

How does the third "if" conditional statement affect the present since it is used for events that cannot be changed in the past? E.g., "if you had known, you would have done the work last week."
Olubodun Timmy's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is "aways" a misprint by EVE Online Customer Support?

We noticed that you have not yet logged in to EVE Online. You're just a few steps aways to get started in the world of wealth, power, adventure and opportunity that is New Eden! EVE Online Customer ...
SovereignSun's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
53 views

What is first-generation? [closed]

what is the first-generation and so-and-so generation? How am I supposed to understand if someone says they're something-geneartion?
moon's user avatar
  • 165
0 votes
3 answers
3k views

What is the best verb for "undertaking an IPO"?

There are many verbs to use here that I thought of as follows: A company has an IPO conducts an IPO undertakes an IPO offers an IPO (redundant?) does an IPO initiates an IPO (sounds like it might ...
user3707023's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
146 views

What is wrong with this sentence? "Becoming a leader is a very predictable process."

Something about this sentence sounds awkward but I cannot figure out what it is. "Becoming a leader is a very predictable process." "Being a leader is a very predictable process." Does ...
BecomingConfused's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
103 views

'a' with 'composure'

Every English dictionary marks the word ‘composure’ as an uncountable noun. However, sometimes I come across sentences like this: They had a composure and self-confidence to them I've never ...
Voli's user avatar
  • 125
1 vote
1 answer
94 views

What does "You have the right to an attorney" mean? [closed]

Does attorney means lawyer? and What does "You have the right to an attorney" mean?
Amir's user avatar
  • 161
0 votes
3 answers
848 views

Capable of being proven or proved?

Someone has posted somewhere that an Egyptian man had been arrested and jailed in USA around 1996. At the time, a crime took place in New York, and the criminal ran by him, telling him to run. Out of ...
Sara's user avatar
  • 3,866
1 vote
2 answers
16k views

We wait or we await [duplicate]

Is there a stylistic, tense, or plural difference between the words (wait) and (await)? Does one hold more weight or emphasis than the other? more so than their promises they await for a new day.
O_Maina's user avatar
  • 133
1 vote
3 answers
7k views

Meaning of the phrase "as is the case for"

Here is the context it was used in: As is the case for many countries still suffering wounds from old wars, it may take a long time for these two to settle their differences.
Dmytro O'Hope's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
460 views

Why do we reverse the order in one sentence but not the other?

1a) “What is it?” b) “What do you think it is?” (is it reversed) 2a) “What would be a good way to go about this?” b) “What do you think would be a good way to go about this?” 2b apparently does ...
ChadThunder's user avatar
  • 1,034
1 vote
1 answer
115 views

Why is only one event reported out of two

When Dante Fowler was stopped by police for speeding July 15, he had a unique reason for why he couldn't show officers his registration documents. According to TMZ, the Jacksonville Jaguars star ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
  • 7,429
0 votes
1 answer
172 views

not a particularly

I am not particularly an ardent jazz fan. I am not a particularly ardent jazz fan. I am not sure about the position of the article in the above sentence. Can you tell me which sentence is correct?
bart-leby's user avatar
  • 8,663
3 votes
1 answer
540 views

Where is the joke in "prime minister"?

At a certain webpage, someone claimed that the term prime minister was originally intended as a joke. I don't get see the jokiness in it. “Prime Minister” was also originally a joke at the expense ...
Konrad Viltersten's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
456 views

Can I drop the "h" sound in the words "himself", "herself" and "hers"?

We can drop the "h" in the words "he", "him", "his" and "her" if there is a consonant before them and if there is no punctuation between. For example like in "I like him." Can we do the same in the ...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,304
1 vote
2 answers
621 views

Having past participle

Am I correct in thinking that having + past participle conveys the flowing meaning? Pharse: Tomorrow, having finished the game, I will go home. Means: Tomorrow, after finishing the game, I ...
Sunil K's user avatar
  • 181
0 votes
1 answer
83 views

Usage of "had" in this context

We had better get out of here before they see us. Is "had" absolutely necessary here? Will the sentence be correct without "had": We better get out of here before they see us.
SovereignSun's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
46 views

What is "house committee" called in the UK?

I looked at the entry "house committee" in Cambridge dictionary, and it states about it: in the US, a group of people chosen by the House of Representatives to consider a particular subject. In ...
Virtuous Legend's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
4k views

"Accomplice of" or "accomplice with"

I have this sentence: This man was an accomplice with the thief. It sounds very unnatural to me as, correct me if I am wrong, "accomplice" conveys that the man was with the criminal i.e helping ...
Vandana's user avatar
  • 135
3 votes
1 answer
536 views

Is there a rule for when a demonym can be used as a noun and an adjective?

A fairly common mistake for English language learners from certain countries is to say something like, "I am a French" or "I am a Spanish", which is incorrect (today you would say "I am French/Spanish"...
Paul's user avatar
  • 323
1 vote
1 answer
91 views

the usage of the word - Can we save "the word"? What can I use instead of it here?

"Save" means "to keep and store up (something, especially money) for future use". But I thought this verb is used only with some words(save the day, save money, save time etc.), and doesn't fit in ...
dbwlsld's user avatar
  • 3,461
2 votes
1 answer
76 views

Is there a subject in this sentence?

"kindly share how you felt when you heard an announcement that a bus, plane or train you’ve been waiting for will be delayed." Is there a subject in this sentence? thank you.
chie's user avatar
  • 107
0 votes
1 answer
233 views

Identifying the correct tense

Im in beginer level of learning english and i want to learn english logically. Sometimes i know certain statements are correct but i dont know how to explain to someone. As an example I am Jack, My ...
user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
141 views

his being vs being

Being a well-known scientist, he was invited to deliver a lecture on artificial intelligence. shouldn't be the sentence should be his Being a well-known scientist, he was invited to deliver a ...
kumar's user avatar
  • 529
4 votes
4 answers
4k views

What is the positive form of "stalk"?

What I want is the verb that has the meaning of "stalk", as in a person following someone he or she likes, but which doesn't have any negative meaning like "stalk". For example, She asked him, "...
dbwlsld's user avatar
  • 3,461
1 vote
1 answer
27 views

What does "get children on the right path to success" mean?

Does it mean "choosing the right path for children to succeed"? "We want our children to be successful in school and life. Getting children on the right path to success is where the discrepancies ...
haile's user avatar
  • 5,203
0 votes
1 answer
739 views

...enroll in/at/for a festival?

Suppose there is a festival like the one in my city which is called " Dates Festival", a festival where people can sell or buy dates fruit. And people who want to sell dates should book a stall in the ...
Mido Mido's user avatar
  • 780
0 votes
0 answers
76 views

Why place a connective in between a subject and an auxiliary verb?

Sometimes it is the people that(or who) nobody imagines anything of, who do the things that(or which) no one can imagine. I question why should we place who in the above sentence. For example: The ...
Anubhav's user avatar
  • 3,471
0 votes
0 answers
21 views

Why should not past perfect be used here?

Source Before his death, Zeenat filed for divorce. Since, we are talking of two events with one occurring before the other, we should use the following structure: Before his death, Zeenat had ...
Anubhav's user avatar
  • 3,471
25 votes
7 answers
8k views

What is this mop-like tool called in English?

What this pictured object is called in English? I was googling for mop and squeegee and got confused since based on the pictures in google images the most mops and squeegees look different. Then ...
Virtuous Legend's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
73 views

What's grammatically wrong with this sentence?

What is wrong with 'I do have two brothers.' ? I'm doing English grammar exercise and I think that's a correct sentence. But it isn't.
Lili's user avatar
  • 23

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