79
votes
Accepted
(In, On or At) GitHub?
Github's own preference seems to be on:
Host and manage your code on GitHub.
I can't think of a specific rule for it, but on feels right to me. In English, we generally seem to use on for things ...
- 40.8k
73
votes
How often do native speakers use the word "to scathe"? Is it OK if I use it instead of "to injure"?
The verb itself is almost never used in every day English, but there are two adjectives formed from it which are common:
"scathing" means extremely harsh, biting, critical; e.g. "he ...
- 4,411
61
votes
Accepted
What's the difference between making something “in ten minutes” or “for ten minutes"?
If you do something in a certain period of time, it implies that you have completed the task. The fish and chips are cooked and ready to eat after ten minutes.
Doing something for a certain time just ...
- 54.8k
60
votes
Accepted
"A tin of biscuits" vs "A biscuit tin"
No, you are not overthinking. There is definitely a difference, and the difference is the one you have described. A "tin of biscuits" refers to the biscuits within, whereas a "biscuit tin" generally ...
- 2,210
50
votes
Accepted
What does "Yes, you can. But you may not." mean?
This is what was meant:
Yes, you are capable of sitting there. But you are not permitted to do so.
It's using the following senses of the words (from Merriam-Webster).
Can:
1 a : be physically ...
- 36.3k
46
votes
What is the difference between "I still use" vs "I am still using" in this sentence?
With the "It's 2018" clause, both mean more or less the same thing (as Neil says). But without that clause to clarify, the implication would be quite different.
I still use this phone would be ...
- 970
44
votes
"I only have a friend” vs "I only have one friend”
The meanings are different because of what they imply you don't have.
So if you say "I only have a friend", it means you don't have something that is not a friend. "Not a friend" ...
- 219k
44
votes
Difference between "detonate" and "explode"
detonate is something you do or a thing does. It means to cause to explode.
detonate means to set off. It means: to "light the fuse" and make it explode. It refers to doing something to a ...
- 44.8k
43
votes
Accepted
Difference between "illegal" and "very illegal"
Sometimes, not only in English but in all languages, we want to emphasize certain situations. And then the language itself gives us devices that aren't always common, but we use them anyways, based on ...
- 1,560
43
votes
Why does Ash say "I choose you" instead of "I chose you" or "I'll choose you"?
This is what’s called a “speech-act.” He makes his choice official by saying it. Speech-acts are in the present indicative. The classic example is the traditional wedding ceremony, which has several ...
- 8,464
42
votes
Accepted
Is the particle 'up' redundant in phrases like 'to pick *up* berries'?
It is not redundant but unidiomatic.
We ordinarily speak of picking fruit or berries, without up, from the trees or bushes on which they grow; we use pick up only if they have been spilled (that is, ...
- 175k
42
votes
Accepted
What sense does "I approve of this message" make?
To approve of [something] is a prepositional verb which means: to speak or think favourably of something, or to have a good opinion of something.
To approve [something] means: to officially agree to/...
- 3,739
41
votes
Accepted
Is it "the" or "a" in “The life of __ peasant”?
Of course in most contexts we use a to refer to a generic, non-specific example of some class (or the first mention of a specific member of that class), and the to refer to a specific previously-...
- 21.1k
40
votes
Difference between "detonate" and "explode"
In informal usage, many people will see no difference between 'detonate' and 'explode', and may use them interchangeably. Ordinary dictionaries often state that 'detonate' means e.g. 'explode or ...
- 71.7k
38
votes
Accepted
Do "once a year" and "once in a year" mean the same thing?
There is a slight, but meaningful, difference.
"Once a [time period]" implies frequency observed over a range of time greater than [time period]. "Once in a [time period]" implies an observed ...
- 531
38
votes
Accepted
it vs. this vs. that
The difference between the two based on the "Cambridge dictionary" article, is as follow (quote):
"We use "it", "this" and "that" to introduce further information about a topic already mentioned. ...
- 27.1k
38
votes
Accepted
Is there any difference between "pour drinks" and "pour out drinks"?
When hosting a dinner party you pour drinks for your guests.
After your guests leave, you pour out the liquid in the drinking glasses before placing them in the dishwasher.
Pour drinks generally means ...
- 9,194
37
votes
What is the difference between "you are being" and "you are"?
There is a pretty visible distinction between both, and this example displays one of the main uses of continuous present.
You are being a jerk
Means that you're a jerk right now, on the matter at ...
- 2,060
37
votes
Accepted
What's the main difference between "You are not to use the elevator." and "You don't have to use the elevator"?
(1) is a direct command (you must not use it).
(2) means that, according to the rules, you should not use it (but the speaker didn't make the rules).
(3) means that you can use it, but you need not if ...
- 54.8k
36
votes
Accepted
What's the difference between words "tongue" and "lingua"?
"Lingua" is not an English word. To my knowledge it is only found (in English) in the expression lingua franca which comes from Italian and refers to a "common language" between two or more groups of ...
- 12.3k
36
votes
Is it OK to say "a cat is on the table"?
"A cat is on the table" is completely correct English. It is used when the speaker can assume that the listener knows that something is on the table and is identifying that thing. That is, ...
- 219k
35
votes
Is the particle 'up' redundant in phrases like 'to pick *up* berries'?
If you're saying that you are going to actually collect flowers or berries, "up" is not only redundant, it's outright wrong.
We don't "pick up" things when we gather them, we "pick" them.
I spent ...
- 25.4k
34
votes
'I wish to speak WITH a British accent' or 'I wish to speak IN a British accent' - is there a difference?
@Maulik is quite right that for OP's exact context, both prepositions are acceptable (though outside of "Indian English", with an [X] accent is far more common. But having said that, consider...
1: ...
- 71k
31
votes
Accepted
I gave him a paper to read
From the context, I take the paper as a piece of writing usually on an academic or official subject as in
They published a landmark paper in 1995.
Or it can refer to a piece of writing that is ...
- 7,583
31
votes
Is there any difference between friendly and kind?
Mr Smith greets everyone who enters his bookstore with a broad smile and a bit of pleasant conversation. He might inquire about a regular customer's family, or offer his opinion on the latest best ...
31
votes
Accepted
Difference between "I know where I stand" and "I know my place" and their interchangeability
These two idiomatic expressions have significantly different implications...
I know where I stand
I have a clearly-defined opinion (on some contextually-relevant topic).
Often carries the ...
- 71k
31
votes
Accepted
"the whole shabang" vs "the whole shebang"
They have exactly the same meaning but shebang is by far most common (Google search) and is the only spelling listed by major dictionaries (Merriam-Webster (US) and Oxford (UK) online). The Urban ...
- 7,516
31
votes
Accepted
Supermarket (bill / check)
If you look at the graphic you attached to the question, you'll see the answer already provided.
At a supermarket, where you've already paid, you get a receipt:
[Merriam-Webster]
1 a : a writing ...
- 36.3k
31
votes
Accepted
What does "the proverbial middle finger" mean?
proverbial = goes beyond its first meaning
Merriam Webster:
Definition of proverbial
1: of, relating to, or resembling a proverb
2: that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of
the ...
- 44.8k
31
votes
What’s the difference between errands and shopping?
"Errand" is a more overarching term that describes a (mostly simple) task that needs to be done. That task may be to buy something, but it doesn't have to. It could also be, for example, to ...
- 1,935
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