General - grammar, word usages, and related topics

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whether vs if	31 Jan 2009 23:09 GMT	1
Hi! I have another question. I wonder if the following sentences b) and c) can mean the same as a) a) Whether he is alive or dead, nothing could be changed. b) Even if he is alive or dead, nothing could be changed.
To be about	31 Jan 2009 17:59 GMT	6
Would: "be about as an independent person" work for "exist as an independent person?"
"off" or "of" when listing quantities.	31 Jan 2009 15:33 GMT	7
Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong. For example - "Six-inch widgets - 4 off"
'An historical'	31 Jan 2009 13:22 GMT	33
What is the correct usage here: 'an historical,' or 'a historical'? Signature There are two extremes of beauty in the universe. One is the abhorrent lack of empathy among conscious beings, and the other is the splendor of orderly
Right replay: :How are You?"	31 Jan 2009 12:34 GMT	6
What are the usual, right, or wrong answers to the question "How are You?": 1}"well" 2}"fine"
Tie	31 Jan 2009 10:10 GMT	48
How does one call the type of (Western, cow-boy?) tie that Balanchine wears here: http://www.medaloffreedom.com/GeorgeBalanchineTime.jpg Thanks.
"the same thing but in name"	31 Jan 2009 04:51 GMT	5
I've been correcting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common-law_marriage from the book Don Aitken mentioned, and I came across this sentence: 'It notes that "common-law marriage" is not part of Scots law, but it fails to note that "marriage by cohabitation with habit and repute"--
including	31 Jan 2009 00:21 GMT	26
a) Nothing other people do, including your parents, can take away your American citizenship. b) Nothing other people, including your parents, do can take away your American citizenship.
"The boy bringing the milk has been ill"	30 Jan 2009 23:10 GMT	6
Do you consider the following sentence a mistake? "The boy _bringing the milk_ has been ill." I saw this in "Practical English Usage"(*1) by Michael Swan first edition. Mr Swan wrote it's a typical mistake.
British English and American English	30 Jan 2009 19:58 GMT	51
BRITISH ENGLISH ---------------AMERICAN ENGLISH AUTUMN------------------- FALL BAG -------------------------SACK BARRISTER ----------------LAWYER
Soho	30 Jan 2009 14:33 GMT	2
There are a number of places in the UK called 'Soho' (in Carmarthenshire, London, Sandwell, Somerset at least). Where does this name come from? Recommendations for 'origins of place names' books will be welcome.
Rough seas	30 Jan 2009 12:11 GMT	66
This evening's local paper here (Belfast Telegraph) has its first page devoted to the inauguration of President Obama. The three headlines are: The change has come
Origin of Description of Americans as "Fat, lazy and stupid"	30 Jan 2009 04:12 GMT	45
Can anyone shed any light on the time this trilogy was first uttered in print (or perhaps electronically)? I was moved to inquire about this after reading some material from Prof. David Deming, who, amongst other things asserted in 2008, that
most of 'em	30 Jan 2009 03:09 GMT	9
See the following snippets: ------------------------ >It's probably worth mentioning that AFAIK, assuming the above works, >it'll only work in gawk since it requires a multi-character RS.
For which speakers are [a] and [&] allophones?	29 Jan 2009 23:17 GMT	34
The answer might actually be "none", but I'm wondering for which English-speakers are [a] and [&] allophones. I've certainly heard many BrE-speakers use [&] in stressed syllables of borrowed words where I would normally use [a] or [A], such as "pasta" ['p& stR]. Are