
"must" vs "be required to" - English Language & Usage Stack …
May 8, 2024 · I am a non-native speaker. I understand that both sentences below have the same meaning. However, I feel that the use of the word "must" isn't suitable for a …
Is there a single-word term for a major change in a word's …
Jan 27, 2017 · Generalization of meaning: Upward shift in a taxonomy, e.g., hoover "Hoover vacuum cleaner" → "any type of vacuum cleaner". Cohyponymic transfer: Horizontal shift in a …
Why is "zero" followed by a plural noun? - English Language
Aug 17, 2011 · I could have: Two books One book Zero books Why is zero followed by a plural form? I don't expect English to always make sense, but everything has a reason, even if the …
"At hand" vs "on hand" vs "in hand" - English Language & Usage …
What's the difference between at hand, on hand and in hand? At hand seems to me as if you have something in reach. On hand is if you have something in stock. And in hand can be used …
What do you call this black, rectangular clamp in English?
Feb 22, 2018 · "Bulldog" is a proprietary eponym - a proprietary word that has become synonymous with a function, like "Xerox=photocopy=photostat" or "Hoover=vacuum-cleaner". …
Is the word 'mistake' a concrete or abstract noun? [duplicate]
Aug 30, 2019 · Being able to count (or not count) a concrete or abstract noun is not a criterion that determines its type.
What word would you use for movement of bushes?
According to the Free Dictionary, you have it backwards: rustling refers to the movement, and the sound is thus implied. Personally I associate the word so strongly with both the movement and …
Correct word for a little toy that always stands up?
Jul 31, 2019 · In Spanish, we have a word for a little toy that always stand up, "tentetieso". I want to search for those toys in English, but I can't find the correct word or specific description to …
Referring to objects as "she" [duplicate] - English Language
Sep 18, 2010 · Most of the "she" style labels I hear are half terms of endearment and half self mockery. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if a man referred to a vacuum cleaner as "she" …
What is a word that means "created out of nothing"
Aug 13, 2014 · There’s always spontaneous generation, which sounds a bit wacky until someone starts chatting you up about vacuum energy with particle pairs blinking into existence and …