Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007

I heard a couple of interesting reports on the radio this morning.
1. The Chinese military unveiled a new fighter plane after ten years
thanks to Russian help.
Just what did the Russians do?

while working on one of my website's pages
( http://xahlee.org/sl/fur.html ), i have to write:
«above right: A rat-chick dancing away. Note her nipple rings, neck
collar, and manacle-bracelets, and her bucktooth. Possibly with the

I have just read the end sentence which states:
'Your thoughtful leadership is as always greatly appreciated.'
It seems to me that there should be a comma after 'is' and after
'always'. Writing seems to omit this from my reading of late. Lazy

Let's take this sentence:
If I were to choose between the two cars (because I have money for
only one), I would choose the silver one.
Is there any obligation involved in the "If I were to choose" part of

Last Saturday I was in the library, and noticed they had a book sale
on. I picked up _Trojan_ by James Follett. Quite a coincidence,
considering the posting he made last week.
Anyway, there are several words and phrases I have questions about,

Another question popped up, and I need your help. Here is the context
for your reference.
    Other than green fields and grazing cattle, in the quiet rural
area of Pennsylvania, one may find a very special town called Chocolate

I am having  difficulty understanding following news article.
Offshore attrition on the rise
Article's URL:
http://weblog.infoworld.com/realitycheck/archives/2007/01/offshore_attrit.html

I'm new here and I'm very glad that such a newsgroup exists. I'm not native
english, but I like english language. I've written a document in english
(it's a silly one to be honest, don't expect anything serious) and I'd like
to know wether I made any mistakes in it.

Can someone take time to explain or paraphrase the subject sentence
which appeared in TIME magazine's recent issue as follows?
On the optimistic view, then, China's rise to global prominence can be
managed. It doesn't have to lead to the sort of horror that accompanied

Is it gramatically correct to describe a naughty act as "a
naughtiness"? In other words, can you preface the word "naughtiness"
with the word "a"?
Thanks again.

Hi, all
A few weeks ago I came here and presented a question - I'd given a
woman some instructions via email, she misunderstood what I wanted and
went totally ballistic on me... I asked you if I'd said what I'd meant

New word for me - brumation.
Used in another place to describe the way reptiles shut themselves down
(similar to hibernation). Can't find it in any of the usual suspect
dictionaries. Nearest OED has is "brumal" for "wintry" which is, I guess,

In a P. G. Wodehouse story (Sir Agravaine) I see the
statement
From either end of the arena a mounted knight had appeared.
I'm used to thinking of either as being contrary to both, so

Hi. I recently came across the usage 'fond about' meaning,of
course,foolishly infatuated with or silly about(quite different from
'fond of'). But to me, the 'about' rather jars in combination with
'fond'. Hadn't we better say 'fond on' which to me sounds better --

I am searching for a definition of a "contextual example." (Please
don't say "an example in context.)  ;-)
Also what s the rule for simple phrasing of a contextual example.
Jo