pronunciation - Is "forte" pronounced "fort" or "for-tay"? - English ...
Aug 21, 2010 · Summary: The confusion may come from 'forte' as used in music for strong or loud, which is definitely pronounced 'for tay' = /ˈfɔr teɪ/. In French, the same letters are pronounced 'fort' = …
Is "forth and back" more proper than "back and forth"?
Aug 3, 2012 · "Back and forth" is the more correct idiom, because, well, that's the idiom. There's nothing to stop you from saying "forth and back" — a little voice is repeating the subtitle to The Hobbit, which …
Differences between "propensity", "predilection" and "proclivity"
Jan 17, 2012 · 0 They're essentially synonymous: Proclivity is 'leaning to', propensity is 'nearness to' and predilection is 'preference for'. Worry about something more significant like the misuse of the words …
Is it two-third or two-thirds? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Jul 29, 2013 · A third, like any other unit of measurement, is dependent on the number of units described. For example, we describe 'one apple' and 'two apples'. The same goes for fractional units. …
Double negation: not, neither - nor in a sentence
Feb 15, 2018 · The last sentence is OK; the other two are overnegated. The not in the first clause scopes the second one too, so you don't need to repeat the negative in it. The first ones are OK …
Neesh or Nitch? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Aug 20, 2010 · What is the correct way to pronounce niche? I've always said and heard nitch, but now I hear neesh, but it always sounds trendy to me. Thoughts?
Is there a common ancestor for "wink" and "twinkle"?
Probably they've been related for a long time. Wink, twink, and twinkle all refer to small repeated movements, and their effects, and their causes. The TW- assonance refers to this, among other …
etymology - What is the origin of “My thing”? - English Language ...
Feb 12, 2015 · When did the term "my thing" as in " that is my thing " come into usage? Merriam-Webster offers very little help and limits itself to saying thing 7 a : something (such as an activity) that …
Where does the term "three sheets to the wind" originate from?
Mar 7, 2011 · The original wording of this phrase was ". . . in the wind," as mentioned in the above-referenced phrases.org.uk entry. The entry cites Pierce Egan's character's descripton of a drunk …
What is the origin of the term "ginger" for red-headed people?
Aug 31, 2014 · I'd like to know the etymology of the word "ginger" in reference to red-headed people. In particular, if "ginger" in this context is related to the plant root used in cooking, I'd like to know how...