What is it called when one says “false news” but they mean “fake news” and just didn’t notice the difference or didn’t realize it mattered? It’s like an eggcorn but the way it sounds is not quite the point here. Answer What you describe is a form of misspeaking. I commend you on identifying and … Read more
I just overheard my officemate, while she was on a conference call, say “My muke was mited”, and I’ve said before “We need some more print for the inker”. These aren’t quite spoonerisms, as far as I can see. Is there another word which describes this type of speech error? Answer Metathesis 1. Linguistics Transposition … Read more
I was surprised to see "his husband" in the Cambridge dictionary’s entry for compliment: He complained that his husband never paid him any compliments anymore. Isn’t that a mistake? Or is Cambridge talking about something homosexual? Answer The answer to the question “Is ‘his husband’ valid?” (in the English language) is “Yes, yes it is” … Read more
What’s a name for mistakes like in the following sentence: “time flies even faster as a parent”? Requested edit to clarify where the error is: time as a parent is the subject in the sentence above, which was not the intended meaning. “Time flies even faster for a parent” or “For a parent, time flies … Read more
EXAMPLE: In probability theory and statistics, variance is the expectation of the squared deviation of a random variable from its mean. Generally, it measures how far a set of (random) numbers are spread out from their average value. Poker players and journalists use the word “variance”, where people would normally use the word “luck” or … Read more
Spot the grammatical error, if any? Answer “I wish he was as good as you when it came to managing finances.” Your question title is grammatically fine. The subjunctive mood is the verb form used when expressing a wish, demand, suggestion, or making a statement that is contrary to fact. Certain verbs (such as advise, … Read more
Which is correct? You username has been updated or Your username has been updated or something else i am not sure i dont speak very well english so making sure i am writing right Answer YOUR USERNAME. You- is of a singular address. From one to another. YOUR- is of singular address but with the … Read more
Organic pulses are so popular today that people wonder how they ever lived without them. Answer I don’t see any grammatical error in the sentence, “Organic pulses have become so popular today that people wonder how they ever lived without them.” What part of the sentence do you have concern about? AttributionSource : Link , … Read more
Trump recently referred to John McCain as a “crusty voice in Washington.” “I can tell you, we hope John McCain gets better very soon because we miss him. He’s a crusty voice in Washington, plus we need his vote, …” I’ve never heard that term. Does it mean something? Or did Trump make it up … Read more
As a non-native speaker, I would never have guessed that this mistake was a thing before I read it on the web. Since it makes no grammatical sense, I can guess that it can only be seen in the writing of native speakers because they have learned the language through oral communication, while most non-native … Read more
