Discussion Forum
This is a forum to discuss the gray areas of the English language for which you would not find answers easily in dictionaries or other reference books.
Do You Have a Question?
Latest Posts
Why do people say they have an Ideal instead of an Idea, which is correct?
Websters says it’s two words.
What does the “o’” in “o’clock” stand for? I’ve heard it means “of the”, but that sounds odd. “I’ll meet you at two of the clock”. Perhaps it means “on the” which makes more sense to me. “I’ll meet you at two on the clock”
Does the word “akin” share roots with other words starting an “a”? For example, “Morton’s gone acourtin’ Daisy Sue”. And if so, are these hillbilly expressions? Hillbillies on TV never seem to use the word “akin” they say “kin” a lot as in “...we’re kin folk”.
Often poisons, and certain drugs give directions to NOT induce vomitting. Indeed, I don’t ever remember reading directions that did advise you to induce vomiting. So, this begs the question, are they saying go ahead and vomit but don’t do so by sticking your fingers down your throat, or are they saying avoid vomiting altogether... take some gravol or something?
Shouldn’t that be “The Toronto Maple Leaves”? They’re a hockey team in case you never heard of them.
Where does the word “nope” come from? Is it just slang for “no” or does it have more distinguished roots?
I’m no English expert so this one is probably obvious to all of you. In some places in the Caribbean, the people do not “fill” up a gas tank. They “full” it. As in “Full up my gas tank”. I’m not sure if this is wrong. It’s like saying in the imperative, “Make my gas tank full!” Well, is it wrong?
Actually there are a few idioms in the Caribbean like this. “How comes you doesn’t call?” I’m not sure about the “comes” in that sentence.
When should I use “farther” as opposed to “further”? ex. I went farther down the road than I expected. I went further down the road than I expected.
Is ‘off the mark’ a proper english?
“My earlier calculation on the number of slides is off the mark. I have just added on department of building & the current total is 97. I still haven’t receive department of Real Estate which would be another 17 slides. The total will be around 120 slides.”
