9
votes
Meaning of 'for' in 'read poems for grammatical correctness'
for introduces an end-purpose, goal, or aim: "I go shopping for food." "I hike in the woods for some peace and quiet".
But it's not at all clear what the first phrase introduced ...
- 121k
9
votes
Meaning of 'for' in 'read poems for grammatical correctness'
The first sentence is using "for grammatical correctness" loosely. It should be understood to mean something like "for the purpose of investigating the notion of grammatical ...
- 203k
4
votes
"..........down 1,445 on the previous year." Why is it ""....on the previous year." but not ""....from the previous year."
When making comparisons between two years, in BrE, it is idiomatic to say either … on the previous year or … from the previous year. Both are fully understood. Of course it does depend on the exact ...
- 6,965
3
votes
Meaning of 'for' in 'read poems for grammatical correctness'
I personally interpret the sentences in a similar way to "look in something for". The phrase "look in something for" is most often use as meaning opening a container and attempting ...
- 934
3
votes
Accepted
"All outta angst" : derived from angst or free from angst?
All outta [something] is an "eye dialect" spelling for "all out of" [something]. That is, there is none of it remaining. The stock or supply has been completely depleted.
If you go ...
- 121k
2
votes
"All outta angst" : derived from angst or free from angst?
One thing's for sure
I'm all outta angst
Society don't bother me
And there's something wrong with that
The actual lyrics include the full phrase "I'm all outta angst", which clearly shows ...
- 9,467
2
votes
Confused with articles - 2
You use a definite article when you and your listener can answer the question "Which?"
Millions of people are attracted to the ski slopes.
Which ski slopes?
The ski slopes of the Alps.
...
- 203k
2
votes
Meaning of 'for' in 'read poems for grammatical correctness'
In one possible reading, “for” means “in order to find or get,” similar to reading a passage for its meaning, reading for comprehension, asking for information, working for money or shopping for milk.
...
- 8,393
1
vote
Meaning of 'for' in 'read poems for grammatical correctness'
I mean what they wanted to express with that sentence was clearly "I don't mind if poems are not grammatically correct".
But likely they already had the 2nd sentence lingering in their head &...
- 176
1
vote
Accepted
He never asked anything from me. (from vs. of)
Both are correct and natural, and mean the same thing.
According to Google Ngrams, the version with "of" is more than 5x more common.
- 48.9k
1
vote
Accepted
AT the death of ...or BY the death of
Yes, it's perfectly possible, and more common in current English - see this
- 49.5k
1
vote
Does 'upon' really mean 'on'?
Saying, “Upon means on” does not mean that upon can serve as a substitute wherever one encounters on. In fact, what it does mean is closer to the inverse: On can serve as a substitute wherever one ...
- 5,850
1
vote
"With X equals 3" vs. "With X equal to 3"
To my ear, [with] X equals 3 sounds more like the result of evaluating an equation, rather than setting a variable as a "parameter". That implication is less noticeable in [with] X equal to ...
- 68.7k
1
vote
can i start a sentence after a preposition?
I just want to make sure that I can start a sentence after a preposition.
Normally English grammar says you can not start a sentence with a preposition…
There is no such rule.
You may be ...
- 26.5k
1
vote
can i start a sentence after a preposition?
Good question! There are a couple of reasons that a sentence can start with a prepositional phrase immediately followed by a verb.
In the closet is where I keep the dog food.
In this sentence, "...
- 4,274
1
vote
Accepted
"They're going about it (in) the wrong way"
There is no difference in meaning. Any difference is that including 'in' is maybe slightly more formal. When speaking informally, people often omit words that are not necessary, and the 'in' is one of ...
- 70.8k
1
vote
Accepted
"Where" : is there a meal where you eat the same thing every day? What?
"A meal" in the cited context would normally be one of breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea (a type of meal that you might have every day). For example, Do you always eat porridge for breakfast?
...
- 68.7k
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