ELL's Cabin

1:49 AM

0

Q: Synonymize [negative] to point to [negation]

Should the negative tag be made a synonym of the negation master tag? negative has 33 questions, and negation has 118 questions. double-negation has 5 questions. Currently there is not a double-negative tag.

Damkerng T.

3:34 AM

-4

A: I have something urgent {need / needs} your help?

my name is Helen, I have to give this miraculous testimony, which is so unbelievable until now. I had a problem with my Ex husband 2years ago, which lead to our break up. when he broke up with me, i was not my self again, i felt so empty inside me, my love and financial situation became worst, un...

^Either spam or that sort of thing.

Anonymous

4:00 AM

Flagged!

Anonymous

4:48 AM

@DamkerngT. If you've got an answer in progress, you might want to delete it while you're working on it, then undelete it when you're done.

Anonymous

You don't have to, but it's a thing people do sometimes :-)

Damkerng T.

Ah, I see!

Anonymous

I've seen two people write edition where I expected edit this week.

Anonymous

I didn't realize that was such a common mistake!

Damkerng T.

It looks strange, editing a deleted answer. :D

Anonymous

4:52 AM

It's okay, only a few users will see it :-)

Anonymous

@DamkerngT. Hey, you moved your parent user from EL&U to ELL!

Damkerng T.

@snailboat Ah, I did that a long time ago!

Actually, as soon as I realized where my home is. :-)

Anonymous

I don't check very often :-)

Damkerng T.

5:16 AM

@meatie I believe that I had already answered that in a comment that is now deleted. In the case that I didn't say anything explicitly, I agree with Stephie in her comment. — Damkerng T. 5 secs ago

Why - do - people - delete - comments?!

Damkerng T.

5:34 AM

Phew! What a long post!

Anonymous

Yay

Usernew

6:41 AM

@Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ. Chill, dude :D I am not an editing master, but I didn't need any tips from you or anyone when I was talking with that stubborn dude* :)

I don't think I mean what I meant which made you think something I mean. :(

@Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ.

Damkerng T.

8:08 AM

3

Q: What's the deciding factor for which form of a word you choose before the word "skill"?

I wanted to tell my friend that I had skills in persuading people. I stood for 5 minutes just thinking whether I should say "persuading skills", "persuasive skills", or "persuasion skills". To decide which one to use, I went searching online dictionaries, and it just created further confusion. ...

grammar word-choice

What? Why the migration?!

Riley Francisco

I don't know.

Damkerng T.

Haha! I just noticed your answer. Agree with the patient skills. I think you understand the OP correctly. On the other hand, when I read his patient skills the first time, I though maybe he was thinking of bedside manner. -- (added s to skill like in the OP's examples)

Anonymous

Though this is fine here but IMHO this deserves to be on ELU. @snailboat — Maulik V ♦ 22 mins ago

Anonymous

That was the comment the moderator left when they migrated the question.

Damkerng T.

I'm not sure about the reason of the migration. IMHO, ELL should be able to handle this question just fine. — Damkerng T. 7 secs ago

I even thought of downvoting his answer, but I think it's better to let ELU folks handle it.

Anonymous

8:20 AM

I haven't read the answer so I don't know if it's good or not

Anonymous

I'm typing from my phone again and I'm lazy :-)

Damkerng T.

> ~~negotiation~~ negotiating skills

That's his two cents.

Good thing that the OP didn't fell for that.

Anonymous

I wonder what a COCA search for negotiation|negotiating skills would come up with

Damkerng T.

I don't know about COCA results, but my Macmillan Collocations Dictionary suggests negotiation skills.

> He has good negotiation skills and shows the ability to work with a range of peers.

Anonymous

I don't think it's true that when a noun derived from the -ing form of a verb coexists with a deverbal noun formed in another fashion that the former is usually more common

Anonymous

8:24 AM

Note: the noun derived from the -ing form should be distinguished from the verb form itself – it is best not to call it a gerund

Damkerng T.

@snailboat I think we have to consider it on a case by case basis.

Anonymous

Yes, I think so

Anonymous

Note: a case-by-case basis

Damkerng T.

Recent answers on ELL by some users seem to tend to be overreaching.

@snailboat Thanks!

Anonymous

The point I'm making about the term gerund is probably a subtle one, but it does matter

Damkerng T.

8:26 AM

I mean, they try to generalize the usage based on their own observations, and boil it down to a rule or two. It wouldn't be a bad idea if the rule or rules they arrive at were correct.

Anonymous

People use the term gerund when the verb is in its -ing form and functions as a verb within the clause (takes adverbial modification, takes verb-like complementation, doesn't inflect like a noun, doesn't take noun-like modification or complementation) BUT the clause as a whole is functionally similar to a noun phrase

Anonymous

This leads to the mistaken claim that a gerund is a noun, but it is not, which we can see by the criteria I just listed

Damkerng T.

nods -- I'm glad that I'd learned about it from you. :D

Anonymous

But a noun can be derived from this form (via conversion, also called zero derivation) and when this happens it takes on all the properties we expect a noun to have

Anonymous

So strictly speaking that answer shouldn't use the term gerund

Anonymous

8:32 AM

I upvoted Riley's answer :-)

Anonymous

I didn't actually check corpus evidence before voting

Anonymous

It's hard to do that from my phone

Damkerng T.

Results from COCA: NEGOTIATING SKILLS 56, NEGOTIATION SKILLS 35

Anonymous

Seems reasonable

Damkerng T.

nods

Anonymous

8:35 AM

Hmm, maybe I'll cancel my vote and wait until tomorrow to vote

Anonymous

I think you're right though that we have to evaluate these on a case-by-case basis

Anonymous

I'm very sleepy!

Damkerng T.

nods -- which is why I think it's really hard to master. It's even more flexible than prepositions.

But most learners wouldn't feel it a real problem because most of their own writing is specialized, more or less.

@snailboat Ahh... probably better get a good sleep, perhaps?

I'm quite hungry!

Anonymous

おやすみ(( _ _ ))..zzzZZ

Damkerng T.

Sleep well!

off to find something to eat...

Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ.

9:54 AM

@RileyFrancisco Welcome to the Cabin!

@Usernew You went ahead well, but the last part of the sentence is nonsensical. :P

@DamkerngT. Makes sense.

Damkerng T.

@Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ. Evening!

Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ.

@DamkerngT. Afternoon!

Damkerng T.

Ah, right!

Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ.

We should have a taking-off-hats emoticon.

I felt like we were \o'ing like Sherlock and Watson do.

BTW I'm having ice cream.

Usernew

10:12 AM

@Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ. I don't think I mean what I meant which made you think something I mean. :( this one?

Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ.

@Usernew Yep.

Usernew

check the emoticon :( :D

oh, yes.

Is "squeezed papers" wrong?

I guess so

Welcome @RileyFrancisco :D

Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ.

@Usernew What would they look like? O_O

Riley Francisco

thanks

Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ.

@RileyFrancisco \o

Usernew

10:14 AM

Dunno @_@ @Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ.

I will delete my answer if someone tells me

Ϻ.Λ.Ʀ.

@Usernew Delete your answer.

Wait, which answer do you mean?

Usernew

I really have to disagree with Ngram. Scrunched and Crumpled sound the best. — Riley Francisco 6 mins ago

this one

I am probably missing up after "squeezed," Am I? :((

Riley Francisco

lol

Usernew

LOL

:D

2

A: What do we call these 'squeezed' papers?

My answer is in addition to the above two answers. Though, Crumple is a very good option given by Caroffrey, so is "Scrunched up papers" by Riley, but I prefer to call it "squeezed papers." Crumpled paper can also mean this type of papers(with creases/wrinkles): Here is a squeezed paper: ...

wait

Damkerng T.

There are more possible adjectives, I think, like rumpled, wrinkled, or even crushed. But I think I would go with crumpled, too.

Usernew

10:21 AM

So, should I delete it?

but again, rumpled, wrinkled can also mean the other type of paper.

Damkerng T.

It's actually up to you. :D

nods

Usernew

the very first

I have posted in my answer

but the OP is looking for the papers that are crushed into a ball(that doesn't bounce)

yes, up to me ^_&

but, is it misleading, false in any way?

Damkerng T.

If I were to be blunt, I'd say that it's a bit confusing. :P

Usernew

yes, it is :D

I will delete it when I get another vote to get the badge :P

Damkerng T.

LOL -- That's probably not a good reason to delete an answer!

Usernew

10:25 AM

confusing is good, but misleading. :)

B)

Yeah, not a good reason :(

but let's not confuse users :D

But the OP is smart enough to ignore the confusion

:)

Damkerng T.

Also, I think the badge is for when we've got three downvotes and then delete our answer, if I'm not mistaken.

Usernew

Thank God that user is gone....Phew!

that one is "peer pressure"

Damkerng T.

Suspension is temporary, BTW.

Oh, do we have another kind of badge for deleting upvoted answers?

Usernew

I am talking about "Disciplined"

yes, we have :)

Yeah, it is :)

Damkerng T.

Hmm... okay. Good to know. I'm not a badge person anyway.

Usernew

10:28 AM

But still, that user annoyed me way too much

He was also suspended on ELU, but he is back now

I think I should remove the Ngram thing

I better delete it

Damkerng T.

Ah, I think I found a good expression for it: wadded balls of paper

Usernew

that's nice :)

Why not post an answer or a comment?

Damkerng T.

Well, as a rule (of my own), I don't normally post things I just found the first time searching for answers to a question.

Usernew

I deleted it

Me, neither.

Damkerng T.

In other words, I don't normally post things that are completely new to me.

Usernew

10:33 AM

I search first

Damkerng T.

I don't mean to say that others have to do the same.

Usernew

I know

I thought that was in your vocab

no ngrams to plot

Damkerng T.

No, they're sort of in, but not quite. I haven't seen it used this way before.

Usernew

I checked just now :(

Damkerng T.

A related expression (from the same novel): he would grunt impatiently, wad the paper up into a crumpled ball and throw it into the waste-paper basket at his side.

Usernew

10:36 AM

again, crumpled

hmm

good I deleted it

have you read "hamlet"?

why my points are not deducted?

Damkerng T.

@Usernew Not really. Just a few dabs into it.

@Usernew Not sure. Probably just a delay?

Usernew

hmmm... yeah :)

didn't find it interesting?

points reduced

Damkerng T.

More like having too many things to read. :-)

Usernew

I must now mourn for the loss :"(

got it :)

Damkerng T.

So Shakespeare's to wait.

@Usernew Aww

Usernew

10:40 AM

Well, how hard is it for a NNS like me(with not so good English) to read and understand Shakespeare's work?

Damkerng T.

Probably quite tough, if we read his work alone, but there are lots of sites that could be helpful.

(I know what StoneyB would say if I mention sites like SparkNotes. :P)

Usernew

and for a NS?

Damkerng T.

Probably a little easier, but from what I've heard, not quite easy either.

Usernew

hmmmm......

Damkerng T.

The language is not quite the same as Present Day English.

Usernew

10:43 AM

Well, I saw Hamlet yesterday, understood it well, but not some parts :(

Damkerng T.

Saw? As in a movie?

Usernew

yes :)

wait

But I have to blame the subtitles mostly, not accurate

imdb.com/title/tt0116477

saw the 4 hour version

Quite nice

but exceedingly a good drama.

Damkerng T.

I'm not sure if the dialogues were straight from the work.

But it looks like a very nice movie!

Usernew

not all. But the plot follows his work

Yes, it is :)

But many words are heard, not seen :)

in the movie

Thanks for your time @DamkerngT. Good-bye o/

Damkerng T.

Have a nice evening!

Damkerng T.

1:37 PM

Strange that nobody corrected the OP's "a paper".

Usernew

2:38 PM

ell.stackexchange.com/a/74477/20213 is this supposed to be an answer or a comment?

You mean from "The action is observed when you think the paper is waste" to "The action is observed when you think a paper is waste." @DamkerngT.

Damkerng T.

@Usernew No, I meant "a paper" in the OP's question.

@Usernew It's borderline, imho.

Usernew

"What do we call these 'squeezed' papers?"

Damkerng T.

That, too.

Usernew

What about that answer?

Damkerng T.

Which answer? We have several now!

Usernew

2:41 PM

This one: ell.stackexchange.com/questions/74476/…

I think this should be a comment

Was going to flag it but thought to better ask first :)

Damkerng T.

Oh, that was what I referred to when I said "borderline".

Usernew

got it.

Can you again tell what you mean by "a paper" in the question?

you were talking about this question: ell.stackexchange.com/questions/74469/…

??

Damkerng T.

Ah, I don't think we normally use "a paper" the way we use "a water".

Usernew

hmmmm...

Damkerng T.

BTW, you are using the word avatar incorrectly. — TRomano 34 mins ago

And that, too.

Usernew

2:45 PM

yes, I noticed that, too

and the texture still remains. We just get some wrinkles :D

we don't lose the texture, I guess

Damkerng T.

I'm not sure why he used "avatar", really!

Must be some kind of first language interference.

Usernew

Probably when someone uses it as an avatar?

Damkerng T.

Don't know. That's too weird to me.

"it loses its texture/avatar"

Usernew

I think both are incorrect

the paper loses its texture when we burn it :D

or by some other means

Damkerng T.

nods -- texture still makes some sense, though.

Usernew

2:48 PM

Avatar is straight off-road

Yes

but I don't think we lose the texture

Focus on the word: lose

I like this suggestion: Screwed-up

Damkerng T.

Hehe!

Usernew

http://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/74497/is-polybag-originaly-an-english-word

a question suited for ELU, I guess

Damkerng T.

Still, the answer didn't fix a paper and paper in the example sentence.

Usernew

We lose the "smooth" texture would be more appropriate

Damkerng T.

I'm now more curious about whether polybag is currently an English word!

Usernew

2:53 PM

I don't know where and what to begin with

Damkerng T.

Okay, it looks like it is.

Usernew

:)

Damkerng T.

Not sure in what dialects.

Usernew

@DamkerngT. about what?

Damkerng T.

Polybag

Usernew

2:54 PM

Poly bag is correct

right?

or Polyesterbag

Damkerng T.

dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/polybag suggests that it's old-fashioned, informal.

I would simply call it a plastic bag.

Usernew

right

Damkerng T.

Or a black plastic bag (if I don't know what it's made of).

Usernew

Black plastic would mean a bag made of plastic which is black in color, will it?

Damkerng T.

Yes, most likely.

The typical way to read adjectives would be [black [plastic bag]].

Usernew

2:56 PM

hmmm

Damkerng T.

There is another possible way to write it: black, plastic bag which could mean a bag that is made of plastic and that is black.

Usernew

I would say so :)

Damkerng T.

To force it to be read as a bag that is made of black plastic, we could write: black-plastic bag.

Usernew

or #000000 plastic bag

:D

Damkerng T.

LOL

Usernew

2:58 PM

correct :D

I don't think the question is clear enough

Damkerng T.

The "polybag" question? I think it's clear, but I'm not sure if it's a good ELL question.

Usernew

in the question he asks if the word "polybag" is originally an English word?

Damkerng T.

Hello, @jimsug! Welcome back!

jimsug

Hey there :)

Usernew

and in the tag he asked for "word request" and "word choice"

Hey there @jimsug

jimsug

3:00 PM

Actually just ducking in to say hi/bye, it's getting quite late

Damkerng T.

Understood!

Usernew

@DamkerngT. Right, too bad we can not shoot the question to ELU

Damkerng T.

Or we could try to talk with the OP a bit. :-)

Usernew

yes, we can :)

Damkerng T.

I think "word request" is indeed a strange choice of tag!

Usernew

3:02 PM

that's why I think the question is unclear :)

Damkerng T.

Okay, I tried!

Hello! And welcome to ELL! I'm not sure if I understand your question correctly. Do you want to know the origin of the word "polybag"? Or do you want to know whether it's correct to call those bags in the picture "polybags"? — Damkerng T. 19 secs ago

Usernew

yes, I upvoted, too :)

Damkerng T.

Thanks!

Usernew

But why we can not throw questions like this, and mine, to ELU, like they do?

u r welcome :)

Damkerng T.

Like who do?

Usernew

3:04 PM

people at ELU