The English Oracle

Videos

Is there a word meaning a problem that has to be solved in order to work on another problem?

4.5K

What's the difference between programmer and developer?

5.1K

What is the origin of the knock-knock joke?

5.8K

What does “-bot” of “Obama-bot”, “GOP-bot” mean?

1.2K

When was the phrase "smoke-filled room" first used in politics?

756

Measurements without a dimension (raw number)

485

Question mark when ending sentence with "I wonder"?

13K

What are some of the better English reference grammars?

13.7K

Expression for losing something that you never really had

6.1K

"Kebabs, fruit machines, and brasses" -- what do these slang words mean?

11.2K

Does anyone know the word for a question asked with the intent to injure or insult?

8K

What does "mushy" mean in this context?

1.5K

What is a word for deliberate dismissal of some of the facts?

10.1K

elevation vs altitude

55.9K

How does one correctly use "q.v."?

72.2K

end-to-end alternatives

12.5K

antonym of "spoiled"

8.6K

What's the difference between "you" and "one" in the indefinite?

2.3K

Can I use an explicit verb in a comparison clause?

691

Proper usage of 'if so' in a sentence

93.1K

Context to distinguish "we" inclusive versus exclusive

2.9K

Annotation symbols

8.5K

Can you use words like "free" and "brave" as nouns?

868

Word for "outcastness"

4.9K

Word for when something wrong is made to seem normal because it is common?

31.9K

One word for "a one-eyed person"

63.2K

What is the origin of the phrase "a penny for your thoughts"?

38.9K

"Welcome to Q&A for ..." or "Welcome to a Q&A site for ..."?

652

"A/An" preceding a parenthetical statement

19.1K

Misuse of the verb allege?

568

Word meaning vulnerable to the elements

617

Is "to boil down" formal enough to be used in scientific writing?

6.3K

What is the proper hyphenation of "# and a half year old" in the context of age?

101.8K

"Haven't you?" or "don't you?"

159.9K

What does "on its way out" mean?

6.8K

What does "to spit a rat" mean?

4.4K

How did English end up with names for days of the week like Monday, borrowed from Latin but then also translated?

2.6K

Twice vs Two Times

100.6K

What can I call other students if I am also a student?

124.4K

Is there any difference between "offense" and "offence"?

278.1K

What's a word for someone who wants to voice opinions but not have them challenged?

42.3K

Is it possible for a new irregular verb to appear in English language?

4K

Regarding Re: ; what is the correct usage in an email subject line?

467.2K

What do you call someone who thinks everyone is incompetent (doesn't know anything)?

178.8K

What would a generic term be for a puck or ball in a sport?

1.2K

Differentiating comma/period use in mid-dialogue

1K

Opposite of verb "abstract" and noun "abstraction"

34.1K

A word for this cramp-like sensation

400

Word for the thing that's fixed on the wall and holds a (fire) torch in stories set in the distant past

7.6K

Fictional usage of "drone" to mean "worker" in the context of a eusocial species

181