All Questions
107,918
questions
334
votes
13
answers
101k
views
Why 11 am + 1 hour == 12:00 pm?
One hour after 11:00 am is 12:00 pm. I find this very strange. Why isn't it 12:00 am?
More descriptively, I thought we can think of the am/pm part as a time unit representing a higher amount than ...
- 3,133
215
votes
5
answers
114k
views
How does the "Dalai Lama walks into a pizza shop..." joke work?
On YouTube, there's that famous joke the Dalai Lama didn't understand — and neither did I. It even made headlines in my part of the world, and on some of the sites I frequent, yet nobody ever ...
- 5,386
184
votes
6
answers
30k
views
Canonical Post #2: What is the perfect, and how should I use it?
This is a Canonical Post, intended as a reference and resource for both Questioners and Answerers.
The English “perfect” is deeply puzzling for learners. Nearly one Question in every twenty here asks ...
- 175k
174
votes
11
answers
100k
views
How should I refer to a friend who is a girl but not a girlfriend?
When I'm talking about my friend, who is a girl, but not a girlfriend, what word or phrase should I use? If the gender was unimportant, it would not be a problem. But if I want to note that the friend ...
- 5,770
159
votes
8
answers
38k
views
Why "grand theft auto", not "grand auto theft"?
There is a video game series called "Grand Theft Auto".
According to its Wikipedia page:
The name of the series references the term used in the US for motor
vehicle theft.
[...]
Motor ...
- 2,451
146
votes
4
answers
43k
views
“GOD is real, unless declared integer.”
I'm unable to interpret a sentence though searched and read multiple explanations.
“GOD is real, unless declared integer.” a Fortran-based witticism
Real is real number,
What's the idioms it ...
- 2,712
130
votes
14
answers
116k
views
Is there any difference between “which” and “that”?
What is the difference between the words which and that?
For example:
I have a car which is blue.
I have a car that is blue.
Are there any rules specifying usage of which and that?
- 3,061
124
votes
11
answers
190k
views
What does the line "So long and thanks for all the fish!" mean?
I got a mail with the subject "So long and thanks for all the fish!" from my Manager. What does it mean?
- 1,416
119
votes
10
answers
25k
views
Why do we say "I love cake" but "I love cars"?
Why do some nouns need to be in the plural for that structure to work, while some are ok in the singular? E.g.: I love pizza, I love beef, etc.
I always thought it was a matter of countable x ...
- 1,399
111
votes
8
answers
151k
views
Is there any difference between being ill and sick?
I can say I'm ill or I'm sick. But what is the difference between the usage of these terms?
I've heard that one can use sick for longer-term and ill for shorter-term, but is that really correct? How ...
- 5,770
103
votes
8
answers
23k
views
How can native English speakers read an unknown word correctly?
I have learned English for many years, and from the first day I began to learn it I know the dictionary is necessary for the study. One of the important aspects is that English words, unlike German ...
- 1,031
102
votes
7
answers
97k
views
Why does the i in "naïve" have two dots?
I have observed that the word naïve is written with two dots on the i. Why is this? Is it correct to write the word with a single dot, as in naive?
Are there any other English words with such two dots?...
- 3,772
102
votes
11
answers
9k
views
Free as in "free speech", not as in "free beer"
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. — Richard Stallman
Translating free to my language (...
- 8,025
99
votes
11
answers
299k
views
Should I say "She is in the park" or "She is at the park"?
I am really confused. Which preposition is correct?
She is in/at the park.
They are in/at the park.
I am in/at the park.
Should I use in or at in these sentences?
Ana
97
votes
12
answers
366k
views
How do you say 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 in words?
One of the answers in a reading exercise in my class today was:
100,000,000,000,000,000,000
... which was the value of the highest denomination note ever issued. It was a 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 ...
96
votes
11
answers
354k
views
What is the difference between “nope” and “no”?
What is the difference caused by using “nope” instead of ”no”?
Is it used because “nope” sounds better and not straight like “no”? In some situations, it feels like nope is better to use than no even ...
- 1,071
92
votes
3
answers
846k
views
"As following" vs "as follows"
Which of the following sentences is more appropriate?
The reasons for these decisions are as following:
The reasons for these decisions are as follows:
This operator is defined as following:
This ...
- 1,075
91
votes
6
answers
471k
views
"Once, twice, thrice,...", what comes next?
How would you complete the following sequence, until point 10?
Once
Twice
Thrice
(...)
Any help would be appreciated.
- 1,189
89
votes
3
answers
325k
views
Does "a couple" always mean two?
Today I said some event was a couple of weeks away. A native speaker from Australia corrected me and said, no it's at least three weeks away. What followed was a discussion as to whether a couple ...
- 4,697
80
votes
6
answers
353k
views
What's the difference between "center" and "centre"?
Which one is correct: examination center or examination centre? What is the difference between center and centre? Is the difference only in spelling? What is the usage difference?
- 1,318
78
votes
7
answers
12k
views
(In, On or At) GitHub?
What's the difference between say:
"The project will be on GitHub",
"The project will be in GitHub" and
"The project will be at GitHub"?
- 903
76
votes
3
answers
31k
views
Why is 7 the most feared number?
I was in a computer programming training. A code executed an output number 7 and the trainer asked ( assuming joking) "Why is 7 the most feared number?" and someone said "Because 7,8,9 ... aho ho ho.."...
- 1,237
76
votes
13
answers
13k
views
What's up with the "pun (not) intended" thing?
Whenever I read a carefully composed English text with a pun in it, the stated "pun" is always followed by an explanation whether or not it was intended.
Why is that?
Where I come from (the Czech ...
- 963
76
votes
8
answers
46k
views
Why should we say "play the piano" instead of "play a piano"?
We can say "ride a bike", "drive a car", why should we say "play the piano" instead of "play a piano"?
- 1,391
75
votes
9
answers
45k
views
If potato chips come in contact with humid air, they become what?
In my mother-tongue, there's a word for it. I'm wondering what the English word is.
If potato chips come in contact with humid air (as in rainy days), they lose their crispiness, and become ...
- 65.9k
75
votes
6
answers
354k
views
"firstly ... secondly ..." or "first ... second ... "?
Suppose I am enumerating reasons not to fly. Is it then correct to write/say:
Firstly, I prefer the train because I can see the landscape. Secondly, I have control over my luggage, and thirdly, it is ...
- 4,697
74
votes
8
answers
24k
views
Why do native speakers say 'Come on in' rather than 'Come in'?
Today I passed by a restaurant and got attracted to its menu sticking on the window, so I stopped and had a look at it. Then a staff standing at the gate said to me,'We have nice food. Come on in!' I ...
- 868
74
votes
4
answers
17k
views
Difference between "Do we have a blog?" and "We have a blog?"
I saw a simple question in a comment on SE:
What if I told you there was a sci-fi and fantasy blog?
We have a blog?
But according to my English textbook, that question should be: Do we ...
- 2,263
73
votes
4
answers
18k
views
Is there any more 'respectful word' than 'beggars' for these wonderful guys?
In India, beggars don't do anything and ask for money. But here, I see this specific practice to ask for money (in foreign countries).
Check this guy
he works harder, shows his skills and asks for ...
- 65.9k
72
votes
7
answers
20k
views
Meaning of "respecting" in "no law respecting an establishment of religion"
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably ...
- 3,421
70
votes
11
answers
16k
views
Shouldn't it be "Nobody touch him!"
I heard in a movie
Nobody touches him!
Shouldn't it be in the imperative form, like "Nobody move!"?
Background: from Brubaker
After Redford's character aggravated the members of the prison board,...
- 18.8k
66
votes
7
answers
31k
views
Why can "low" become "lower" and "lowest", while "up" can't?
Why can "low" become lower (comparative) and lowest (superlative), while "up" can become only comparative (upper), rather than superlative (uppest)?
The second question is what does act as a ...
- 27k
65
votes
8
answers
68k
views
Why is the correct spelling "eating" and not "eatting"?
I am learning -ing spell rules from Woodward English. Can't figure out why is it correct to say 'eating'. Is the second rule not applicable here ?
2). If the verb ends in a consonant + vowel + ...
- 767
65
votes
9
answers
36k
views
Two thousand seventeen VS twenty seventeen: What is the rule for year pronunciation?
When I started learning English in junior school I was told that I had to pronounce the year 1997 nineteen ninety-seven and the year 2007 two thousand seven.
I've always followed the rule and ...
user34905
64
votes
8
answers
128k
views
What is the right word to refer to a black person, when you don't know their name?
Excuse my ignorance, I have lived in the UK for 8 years however I still don't know how to refer to a black person, as I came from a country where racism was not an issue.
Some agency called me last ...
- 1,140
64
votes
7
answers
18k
views
"Wow, what a car!" - Is it okay if I say 'Wow, what the car!"
I have been struggling with articles for quite a long time. Most of the times, I understand but then the more I understand them, the more it's getting perplexed!
For this particular question, I'm ...
- 65.9k
64
votes
7
answers
14k
views
Why is "a Japanese" offensive?
When talking about a person from Japan, why is it offensive to say "a Japanese" rather than "a Japanese person"?
The English language Wiktionary says
(person in or from Japan): The singular “a ...
- 5,847
64
votes
3
answers
223k
views
Is "series" Plural or Singular?
Such expressions as
Drama series
and
TV series
are plural or singular?
E.g.
I like to watch drama/TV series or I like to watch a drama/TV series?
- 1,249
61
votes
10
answers
14k
views
Great Expectations [is written vs has been written] by Charles Dickens
I had a grammar quiz at the university today.
One of the questions was:
"Great Expectations" ____ by Charles Dickens.
a) is written
b) has been written
c) was written
Undoubtedly, the ...
- 12.1k
61
votes
10
answers
11k
views
How do native speakers 'guess' the pronunciation of the letters in a word they see for the first time?
Being a non-native speaker, I struggle a lot, especially when I come across a new word. How do native speakers pronounce perfectly when they read a word for the very first time? Is there some rule/...
- 65.9k
61
votes
6
answers
23k
views
Is it OK to mix American and British English?
I normally write using the American English forms, but for some particular words, I tend to naturally write it in the British manner (like with the word favourite rather than favorite).
Is it wrong ...
- 1,271
60
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Can I write "nonsensual data" for data that makes no sense?
I am worried that "nonsensual data" might come across as data that does not have a lot of erotic vibe....
- 703
60
votes
1
answer
16k
views
What's the meaning of bee in hand and beauty in eye?
I've seen this riddle.
I have a bee in my hand. What's in my eye?
Apparently, the answer is beauty but I don't get it. What's the play on words here?
- 4,295
59
votes
16
answers
32k
views
What do you call the act of drinking a whole bottle of, say, water in one go?
What do you call the act of drinking a whole bottle of, say, water in one go?
It doesn't have to be water.
- 593
59
votes
4
answers
14k
views
"Conveince": A word commonly used in Pakistan having to do with transportation but no English person knows about it
In Pakistan, when we don't have any transportation then we say "I don't have any conveince". This spelling is wrong but I never used in written English so I don't know.
None of my English fellows in ...
- 703
58
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Is "I was had" standard English?
I've recently watched West Side Story and heard some weird expressions, one of which is "I was had":
Dear kindly Judge, your Honor,
My parents treat me rough.
With all their marijuana,
They ...
- 1,135
58
votes
12
answers
11k
views
Difference between "illegal" and "very illegal"
From my understanding of English, "very" means "more than the usual" or "to a higher extent".
I've seen on several places the expression "very illegal", such as here as an example: https://youtu.be/...
- 1,043
57
votes
9
answers
15k
views
What does "Although the Second Amendment people" mean?
I don't quite understand what Donald Trump just said, especially the phrase in bold:
"Hillary wants to abolish—essentially abolish the Second Amendment. By the way, if she gets to pick, if ...
- 5,163
57
votes
4
answers
14k
views
"[I]t literally scared her to death" - Why is "I" in brackets?
Quoting a phrase from an article:
Grubb’s first overdose was on Aug. 15, 2015. Her mother found her blue on her bedroom floor, a tourniquet around her arm and a needle next to her. Paramedics ...
- 1,659
57
votes
2
answers
7k
views
What does 'the Twelfth' mean in Article 7 of the US Constitution?
I first encountered the sentences below on p 121, The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution (2004; but the newest edition dates at 2015) by Linda Monk. I rewrote the numerals ...
user8712