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 …
Where does the phrase "hold down the fort" come from?
Jun 20, 2015 · I agree the original should be 'hold the fort' and 'hold down…' looks like an aberration. Is it too much to speculate that 'hold down…' could have come from a land-lubbers …
Is it "are" or "is" when the noun is plural after a gerund?
Playing shooting games are/is my forte. Watching movies is/are fun. Reading books is or are good for you. Do we use is or are for these sentences?
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 …
What's the difference between "to and fro" and "back and forth"?
Jul 17, 2013 · In the example you cite, to and fro is essentially identical in meaning to back and forth. However, to and fro can also carry the less specific sense of ‘moving about in different …
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?
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 …
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 …
What do you call someone from the U.S.? [duplicate]
Feb 1, 2017 · @phoog let me get this clear, geography has never been my forte, so N.America is one continent, and S.America is a second continent. As for the driving analogy, does it hold? …
Is it two-third or two-thirds? - English Language & Usage Stack …
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 …