Discussion Groups / English Usage / August 2009

Okay, Steve and anyone else.  Are birds of the family Jacanidae
commonly known as jacanas in
African varieties of English, or as something else, such as lily
trotters or lotus-birds?  And if they are called jacanas, how is the

Is there any difference in nuance, register, and other elements between
the following two sentences?
(1)This is very different.
(2)This is much different.

Is this sentence correct: "I'm sure we're going to have a good time,
no matter if I try to kiss you or not."?

Abstract:
Something throws itself together. Or sags, shifts tone, or fails. Invisible
airs quicken around nascent forms, rinding up like the skin of an orange.
Circulating forces waver and pulse, visceralizing the sheer sense of something

Images:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2258/2261508111_d731de2898.jpg?v=0
http://www.nateschulz.com/photography/pictures/picture-17.jpg
What do you call pictures of this kind? Extended exposure images?

Can I say:
(i) Last week was Christmas.
(ii) Last month was Christmas.
Thanks.

I saw a sentence discussed in a taiwanese bbs board.
"The book is worthy of being read."
Someone said the mentioned sentence's wrong and corrected the sentence
into

In a British detective story (one of the series starring Fry and
Cooper) an inspector expressed surprise at John Smith deciding to use
the duty solicitor rather than call his own.  I thought this was
incongruous because said Smith is a 20-year-old with little education,

Four animals have no a.s.  Where are they?

There is one word which means 'To thrust your views down the throat of
others', but I cannot recall it now.  Any ideas please.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/
"The 30-year-old victim..." is how the times refers an attacker who
hurled a woman 3 times against a glass front only to fall in with her
on the third, resulting in his own death.

Adrift without a rudder?
I know it has another meaning but is this American sailor slang for
mentally ill?
Is anyone here an American, or English-speaking sailor?

... we could always try some really obscure Tom Swifties.
Fill in the missing adverbs:
"These matellae may vary greatly in size and shape, but since the
function is the same, they count as a single category," said Tom

Hello.
My friend said "Your being a hobogoblin is fine with me." was correct in
terms of English/grammar usage. I disagreed becaues of "Your" part. Does
anyone find this sound funny/weird?

Would anyone here know if there might be a specific name for the large domed
dryers that are seen in  hair/beauty salons beneath which ladies sit to have
their perms dryed? All I can come up with in Google is, well...salon hair
dryer! But something in the back of my mind nags me ...