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1500 questions
31
votes
4 answers
Date format in UK vs US
Why is the most common date format in the US like mm/dd/yyyy, whereas in Europe (including the UK) it's more common to have dd/mm/yyyy?
Looking around, I found that the US form is actually the more traditional Anglo-Saxon way, but the British…
Dan Blows
- 471
31
votes
4 answers
"Duplicate data" or "duplicated data"?
I'm making a presentation and I need to know if I should use "duplicated data" or "duplicate data". Is there any difference? I'm talking about removing observations of a database that are duplicates.
Manoel Galdino
- 585
31
votes
8 answers
"Warm" is to "warmth" as "cool" is to what?
Is there a word for "coolness" that corresponds to warmth?
user21032
31
votes
4 answers
"A bit" vs. "a little bit" vs. "a little"
Is there a difference between a bit, a little bit and a little in the following context?
He is a little bit angry.
He is a little angry.
He is a bit angry.
Or do these sentences mean the same thing?
Alex
- 903
31
votes
2 answers
What is the difference between "everyday" and "every day"?
I constantly see "everyday" being used in cases where the writer really means "every day". For example, here's a sentence from Google's eBooks documentation: "New titles are being added to Google eBooks everyday."
There is even a supermarket chain…
John De Oliveira
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31
votes
2 answers
Origin of the term "wizard" in computing
In computer user interfaces a "wizard" is a set of screens that guide the user through a process.
Does anyone know the origin of this term? I personally associate wizards with magic more than a figure offering guidance.
Luke Quinane
- 413
31
votes
10 answers
What is the nearest British English equivalent to 'Dumpster Fire'?
Dumpster Fire is an informal term in the US for a chaotic or disastrously mishandled situation.
I like it because of the way the term amplifies the meaning: the dumpster is not only full of undesirable cargo, but it is also on fire!
What is the…
EleventhDoctor
- 2,905
31
votes
6 answers
Neither do I / Nor do I / Me neither / Me either
In this circumstance, which would be the most correct / natural answer?
Person 1: I don't eat meat
Person 2: Neither do I / Nor do I / Me neither / Me either
This says both "neither do I" and "Me neither" are often used. But I have also heard /…
Suchi
- 671
31
votes
5 answers
Is there any phrase for the coldest days of the winter?
The hottest days of the summer are called "the dog days". Is there anything like that for winter? I couldn't find anything on the web.
BeatsMe
- 1,478
31
votes
6 answers
Dialects where days of the week end with "dee"?
Someone recently posted a question about the pronunciation of Wednesday, which reminded me of a different question about pronouncing the days of the week I've had floating around in my head for a while.
In Standard American English, the word seems…
alcas
- 4,902
31
votes
4 answers
Is the word "wotcher" British slang? What does it mean?
I was reading a Harry Potter book the other day and one of the characters, Nymphadora Tonks, greets Harry by saying "Wotcher, Harry".
What is "Wotcher"?
Mr. Shiny and New 安宇
- 26,528
31
votes
26 answers
Word for "Significant enough to make a difference"
I wish to know what could be a one word or phrase synonym for the term 'Significant enough to make a difference'.
Till now I thought that the term 'statistically significant' meant that it's significant enough that it makes a difference but that…
Abhioxic
- 421
31
votes
4 answers
What is the difference between "accumulative" and "cumulative"?
I'm having a hard time understanding the real distinction between accumulative and cumulative.
accumulative
adjective
tending to accumulate or arising from accumulation; cumulative.
tending to accumulate wealth;…
Nicole
- 2,198
31
votes
17 answers
Word/phrase to mean something that just happens once
What is the word/phrase to mean something that just happens once? For example,
I have often been told/expected to do this and not to do that. I become aimless
and gradually lose the idea of who I am. I ask myself "What is the point?" If
life is…
Tim
- 9,993
31
votes
3 answers
Parentheses vs. double commas vs. dashes to provide additional detail
When do you use commas and when do you use parentheses to provide more detail about something?
For example:
The suspect, Tom Wilson, is now being charged with murder.
The suspect (Tom Wilson) is now being charged with murder.
John Smith, a member…
Senseful
- 2,259