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Questions in the Writing & Language category.
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December 9
My wife and I always joke about the preponderance of shitty luck we have and how if our family had a crest part of it would be the words "Always an Ordeal" written in Latin. I'm thinking I'd like to actually design it as a gift but know nothing of Latin. Anyone out there know how "Always an Ordeal" would be written in Latin?
posted by Nyarlathotep at 9:39 PM -
17 answers
In Chicago the standard term for bags of heroin sold on the street is "blows." I've also heard the word used as a verb, e.g. "You blow?" Does anyone have any clue as to the origin of the term?
posted by generalist at 12:09 PM -
8 answers
December 8
I want to get a front-cover illustration for my children's book that I wrote during Nanowrimo. What's the cheapest/best way to get one done? One idea would be using the services of a website similar to 99designs but for book illustrators, anyone know of one?
posted by storybored at 2:00 PM -
9 answers
Quick grammar/usage question. Which is the preferred usage: "I'm buying this property on their
behalf," or "I'm buying this property on their
behalves."
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posted by crLLC at 1:17 PM -
17 answers
In the sentence "President Obama created a program to help the poor", what is the grammatical term for the "a"?
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posted by tracert at 9:22 AM -
10 answers
I am learning English now. Well, please imagine.. I am with my American boyfriend,and there are two pieces of cake in front of us.He says,"Which one do you want?"And while I am hesitating ,he adds pointing at both of them,"You can have each one."Then I cut each pieces into two, for us to be able to taste both...,I think that he says that I can try both of them...do I misunderstand about what he says?
And if it not correct,what would you say when you want to tell me that I can try both taste?Just"You can try both of them."?
posted by mizukko at 3:59 AM -
39 answers
December 7
What is this book? For kids, about a scientist's assistant who breaks into the lab safe one night and finds potions that he feeds to the lab rat. Hilarity and mayhem ensues.
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posted by phunniemee at 4:23 PM -
1 answers
December 6
December 5
Is there a word for the phenomenon of finding faces in abstract shapes or patterns? (more inside)
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posted by Kensational at 6:30 PM -
4 answers
Poemfilter: Trying to remember a poem I memorized at the last second and almost instantly forgot for an assignment in 10th grade.
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posted by Dojie at 8:19 AM -
6 answers
Footnote filter: I am writing a non-fiction, non-academic book and need help determining what to include in my citations.
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posted by quidividi at 5:34 AM -
5 answers
December 4
Is there a legitimate, non-slang word for the need to go to the bathroom? By that I mean a singular adjective, i.e. "nauseous," but for, well, pooping. Attempts to Google yield only annoying links to Urban Dictionary, etc.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 6:05 PM -
34 answers
December 3
Linguisticsfilter: I'm looking for experiments that reveal something surprising or fascinating about the way we use and respond to language.
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posted by mossicle at 2:04 PM -
9 answers
December 2
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