
Which is more proper "rarest" or "most rare"?
Nov 17, 2020 · In the following usage, which is the correct form for the superlative of the adjective "rare"? "the rarest on Earth" or "the most rare on Earth"?
compound adjectives - "Highly skilled" or "high-skilled"? - English ...
Aug 5, 2024 · I (Australian) have never heard "high-skilled", and on reading it I automatically wondered how it would differ from "highly skilled". As a result it suggested to me somebody …
Which is correct: "one or more is" or "one or more are"?
Feb 18, 2011 · Both are used. Before the 1940s, "one or more are" was clearly more popular, but since then they seem roughly equally common.
what are the origins of hi, hey, hello? - English Language & Usage ...
Aug 3, 2014 · The question of the etymology of hello is a fascinating puzzle. According to the the OED it was originally an Americanism derived from the British hallo which has its origins in the …
Why is a very rare steak called 'blue'?
Oct 20, 2016 · Quoting the BBC recipe site: How to cook the perfect steak [...] Blue: Should still be a dark colour, almost purple, and just warm. It will feel spongy with no resistance. Rare: …
expressions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Jul 10, 2023 · She’s found: an antique piece of serving ware–I think it was a pie slicer or cheese knife that was the rarest part of a set, rare pyrex dishes, an original Holly Hobbie doll, a jar of …
word choice - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Feb 17, 2011 · These two words are often used interchangeably and the greatest difference I can find between the two is "choose" for choosing multiple items from a set, and "select" for …
"call out" vs "call in" - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Dec 3, 2022 · Apparently, both call in sick and call out sick are used and there is a regional difference in usage in U.S. English. Based on a poll where 7493 US adults surveyed, calling in …
The origin of 'water breaking' during pregnancy
Feb 16, 2025 · Indeed the earliest-occurring term, amnios, the OED assigns to its frequency band 2, its second to rarest classification. That means it remains extremely rare. The OED …
Were clothes called "loud" because they actually made a noise?
Oct 4, 2020 · In the mid 19th century, taffeta was ‘loud’ The taffeta and silk used in dresses in the 1830s could have inspired the expression “loud clothes”. This is only a conjecture of mine but …