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I have been wondering if this particular speaking device had a specific name. My wife uses a speaking technique where, instead of just making a statement, she presents it in the form of a question, and then immediately answers her own question. For example, instead of saying I think you are wrong. she would say, Do I think you are wrong? Yes. Or, similarly, instead of I hate when he does that. she would say Do I hate when he does that? Yes. Does this particular technique have a name? I have been trying to Google this, but have been stumped as to exactly what to search for. Answer This figure of speech is called hypophora . If you visit the Wikipedia entry for figures of speech or this web page about rhetoric , you can find more information about this and other devices.

Here is my sentence: The report further identifies two partial sets, which are not in themselves default sets but which one can—wholly or partly—combine with default sets A or B, or indeed with any permutation of options. Should that have been "set A or B"? Is the set singular or plural? Here is a simpler sentence on (I believe) the same principle: When you reach customs, depending on whether you are a citizen, join queues A or B. One could reword the latter sentence to evade the question, of course, but I seek an answer rather than a way to avoid an answer. The second sentence is just something I made up for this question, but here is part of a third sentence, which comes from the same report as the first: [It] earns exactly one of the adjudications respectively of Tables 3, 4, 5 or 6. Should that be Table rather than Tables ? Should that be and rather than or? (Extra appreciation is given if you can provide a reference for your answer or, better, can quote a great writer...

The fact that I communicated to Mona is irrelevant. The fact that I communicated with Mona is irrelevant. The only difference might seem to be the different prepositions, with and to . Now, try replacing the that in each sentence by which . Do you agree that you can do it with 1) but not 2)? If so, what exactly is wrong with "The fact which I communicated with Mona is irrelevant"? Answer The short answer: that can be a conjunction or a relative pronoun; only when it is a relative pronoun can it be replaced with which . Your first example could mean either of the following: a.) This fact, which I communicated to Mona, is irrelevant — relative pronoun. b.) The fact that I communicated something to Mona is irrelevant — conjunction. If we read it as a), the word that in your example has a function within the predicate of the subordinate clause that I communicated to Mona : it is the object of communicated . What did I communicate? I communicated the fact ( = the antecede...

I hear/read the phrase "going down a/the rathole" used as a synonym for the phrase "going down a/the rabbit hole," the later taken from chapter 1 - "Down the Rabbit Hole" of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , by Lewis Carroll. For example, "let's not go down a rat hole," "that topic is a rathole," etc. I've often encountered this in meetings where a topic or past event is brought up and is then responded to with "let's not go down that rat hole," or a similar variation used to state that a topic, or issue is so confusing, complex, or outside of reality and reason that it would be impossible or at least not beneficial to discuss. There could a time component, but the main point is being unable to reason about something. Google's definition of rathole is noun: rathole; plural noun: ratholes; noun: rat-hole; plural noun: rat-holes informal a cramped or squalid room or building. NORTH AMERICAN informal used to...

I'm looking for ways to simplify a document for better comprehension after I have already gone through an editing process myself. It could include suggestions easier synonyms, grammar optimization (adding commas or rearranging sentences), or plain language in general. I've only found a few resources: Okapi This highlights difficult words according word whitelist from Spache (Grade 1-3) and Dale-Chall (Grade 4 & up). It can only handle 200 words at a time. Microsoft Word can provide Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease score (0-100) and Reading Level (about school grade) after doing a SpellCheck if you have enabled this option in preferences. I know that software, algorithms, and automation will never quite accomplish everything, like finding for example: How complex the ideas are Whether or not the content is in a logical order Whether the vocabulary is appropriate for the audience Whether there is a gender, class or cultural bias Whether the design is attractive and helps or hinde...

This sentence is interesting to me: I don't know what you know. It seems ambiguous. It has two possible meanings. It is so ambiguous that I'm actually struggling a bit to explain the differences without using ambiguous wording, as even context does not always bring clarity to this sentence: It could mean that I am acknowledging that you have knowledge that I don't have. For example, "You are an expert. I am a novice. I don't know what you know." In that case "what" seems to be referring to the knowledge itself. It could also mean that I am unaware of the collection of things that you are knowledgeable about. For example: I give an explanation that is unnecessary, as you already know the reasons. You: "I already know that, you don't need to explain." Me: "I don't know what you know. I explained it just in case." It also doesn't necessarily seem specific to this form. "I don't know the things that you know"...

I am wondering which one is more commonly used in the United Kingdom: car hire or rent a car ? Answer In British usage (at least up to the last few decades) "rent" is used for (real) property only: houses, flats, offices, factories "hire" is used for any kind of moveable property: cars, costumes, marquees, glasses (for a party), scaffolding, chainsaws ... ("hire" is not used for people: rather "employ" or "engage"). I qualified this because American usage is now recognised here, and I would guess is used by some people. But "car hire" and "hire car" are both common expressions still.