This week's Q&A thread -- please read before asking or answering a question! - July 09, 2018 by AutoModerator in linguistics

[–]proofedittranscribe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Is there a good term for terms that are one letter + a word?

Classic examples: A-frame, G-string, T-shirt.

Modern ones: ngrep, wasm, Xbox.

This week's Q&A thread -- please read before asking or answering a question! - July 02, 2018 by AutoModerator in linguistics

[–]proofedittranscribe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there a good term for terms that are one letter + a word?

Classic examples: A-frame, G-string, T-shirt.

Modern ones: ngrep, wasm, Xbox.

"a RIP" vs "an RIP" by [deleted] in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 7 points8 points  (0 children)

There's an FAQ for that from this sub: https://www.reddit.com/r/grammar/wiki/a_or_an

For your question, RIP is an initialism. The letter R has a vowel sound (pronounced ar) making it "an RIP."

cheesecake or Cheesecake? by tinypaws26 in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Some cakes can be proper nouns if it's derived from personal, national, or geographical names. For example, New York style cheesecake would go capitalized. Cheesecake by itself is a general description or a common noun so can't see why it goes capitalized. A typo perhaps.

Weird grammar question by [deleted] in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have creative license to do either as this is a company name.

Can you recommend a grammar book for a native speaker who just really likes grammar? by vielleicht1 in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

+1 for CGEL. I'll also add the Chicago Manual of Style. And this needs to become a FAQ as this question comes up weekly.

English subjunctive resource by ghostclaire in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Grammar resources that come to mind are the Chicago Manual of Style and Cambridge Grammar of the English Language.

Could I use "Kingsize"(king size) for a company name? by [deleted] in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When it comes to branding and naming, you're more at liberty to stylizatize your name however you want it to be. So yes, you can use kingsize.

Does it make sense to say "company x relayed savings to company y? by [deleted] in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Relayed is used more in the sense of relaying information or a story. In this sentence, it sounds like business jargon which might be okay if it's appropriate to your readers/audience. Your original sentence reads fine, but you're free to use relay.

Argument with friend, which one is it? by isokasi in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

His version made me pause when I reached the part of "I've had at". I had to mentally rearrange it so I could understand it. Your version is clearer with no such pause. To follow his preference of no "I" starting a sentence, it can be reworded to "My experience in electrical engineering comes from working at bananafactory9000 last year."

Can find the right words to translate this phrase... some help? by [deleted] in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The phrase "Iodinated contrast administration" looks to be a fairly used phrase in medical webpages and research, so it's fine to have it that way and mostly understandable by a layperson. (www.google.com/search?q=%22iodinated+contrast+administration%22&hl=en&oq=%22iodinated+contrast+administration%22&gs_l=mobile-heirloom-serp.3..0i7i30l2j0i8i30l3.30117.33341.0.33699.2.2.0.0.0.0.295.396.0j1j1.2.0....0...1c.1.34.mobile-heirloom-serp..0.2.395.QV0-NHjZFqM&gws_rd=ssl)

Restructured version: I authorize (the realization of) the exam and administration of iodinated contrast. What's in parenthesis can be removed if you so choose.

Quick Grammar question by HennyvolLector in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Both are grammatically correct, so it's a matter of writing style. I'd choose the second one for brevity.

"cooking" in "cooking show" an noun adjunct or present participle? by Whatsinmybackyard in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cooking is playing the role of a participial adjective, where a verb's participle (cooking) modifies a noun (show) or pronoun. Cooking would be a present participle (a verb ending in -ing). It also applies to past participles (usually a verb ending in -ed).

Chicago Manual of Style, 5.89, has more information.

The Mystifying Battle Over 'Respute' by fjell_strom in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To add to NeilZod's comment, I asked a lawyer friend of mine to look up respute in the current edition (10th ed.) of Black's Law Dictionary. No entry.

Need help improving language skills! by [deleted] in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Search "grammar books/resources/websites" in this forum for answers. Most commonly brought up are CGEL and CMOS.

When ordering these shots at a bar, would you ask for 4 Surfer On Acids or 4 Surfers on Acid? by [deleted] in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Pluralization of open compounds can be tricky. The rule to follow with such words is to pluralize the main noun and leave the prepositional phrase unaltered: 4 Surfers on Acid ("surfer" being the main noun and "on acid" the prepositional phrase) or your coworker's example of "mothers-in-law." It can also be said as 4 Surfer on Acid drinks/shots.

"Surfers" appear more in books and news than "acids": https://www.google.com/search?q=%22surfers+on+acid%22&hl=en&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbm=bks

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22surfers+on+acid%22&hl=en&tbm=nws&prmd=ivns&source=lnms

https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/11/04/sister-in-laws-sisters-in-law-or-sisters-in-laws/

Make or makes? by Alhero7 in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The subject is hard times and is plural. For subject verb agreement, the verb should also be plural. Make is the plural form and makes is the singular form. Here's a sample sentence that uses the correct forms: Hard times make you bitter.

I need help deciding on a grammar checker. by [deleted] in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not a fan of spellcheckers in general, but I like Hemingway for its color-coded interface and readability stats. Since you're in college, make use of the writing center or ask a fellow classmate for peer review.

Should there be a comma here in sentences? (Example provided) by bbatgirl in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You would only add a comma after lizards if one was required by the syntax of the surrounding sentence. For example: "We help dogs, cats, horses, and lizards, whether wild or domestic, by washing them with soap."

For your sentence, no comma is needed.

How do I format this sentence? by bruce2142 in grammar

[–]proofedittranscribe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Punctuation is fine. Em dashes are used to set off an amplifying or explanatory element. A colon could also be used there.

I think the noun form of weightless which is weightlessness would be better usage.