Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2010

What would people recommend as particularly well-written examples of
the 'teach yourself' type of guide?
I'm particularly interested in shortish books (not 'bibles') that
aren't written according to the excruciating self-help formula with

Would inserting "on" before "The darkest evening of the year" be
irrelevant _ in meaning_? I mean, are the two versions perfectly
equivalent and valid?
Of course, it would disturb rhythm.

1. "The bird would cease." What would it cease, singing or being
special?
2. I stumble at that "but that" which has various meanings. Which is
the one here?

This evening, I think for only the second time, I heard "that's" used to
mean "of which" or "whose". It came from a BBC continuity announcer
introducing a prog about the Yellowstone National Park. Assuming it came
naturally, and wasn't just a slip, is this usage as recent as it ...

Watching the BBC's "Breakfast Show" commentary on the Winter Olympics
a moment ago I realized that Charlie Stayt consistently says "women's
ice hockey" but "ladies' figure skating"...

As has been noted here theword gay, used by homosexuals as a preplacement
for queer, has over time become a term of disapproval by todays youth.
Example "that's sooo gay!"
Now there is an ad rnning on American TV where some girls shopping

In my previus posting, I got very previous comment from
Jerry Friedman:
-------------
In brief, most North Americans devoice final stops and fricatives.

"No more it opened with all one end
For teams"
does it mean:
"No more it opened _completely on/at_ one end

1. I left home early to make sure I had extra time in case I got lost.
2. I left home early to make sure I would have extra time in case I
would get lost.
3. I left home early to make sure I would have extra time in case I

1. John hurt his leg (while) playing football.
2.  (While) playing football, John hurt his leg.
Is "while" recommended? Any difference without it?
--

Re the "govern" subjunctive in
"If design govern in a thing so small."
I think, based on similar discussions here, that:
1. "Should design govern in a thing so small"

1. What is "belilaced," in "belilaced cellar hole," or what does it
suggest?
Also, a "cellar hole" does it have this name at construction time, or
only when the houses are in ruins and no walls or floors are left in

I'm confused by "upon themselves" in
"They click upon themselves"
could this mean that "to click" is not "to sound with a click" but "to
fit exactly [upon each other]"?

In 1916, "Leuba found that only 40 percent of scientists believed in a
personal God, 15 percent were uncertain and 45 percent disbelieved."
What is a personal God?
A God who I deal with myself, personally?  As opposed to one who lives

I am afraid I am not certain about the meaning of the phrase 'life
more abundantly lived'.  Would you please paraphrase it for me?
If we do find a totally satisfactory adjustment in life, we tend to
sink into boredom.  Only when our surroundings become problematic