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british english - Is on/before 15 July better than by 15 July if I want to be precise and unambiguous? Which is the more common form?

When the last day of registration is, let's say, 15 July, we currently say "please confirm your registration before 16 July" but students often send their confirmation on 16 July, rather than 15. I guess it's the date itself that's misleading.

articles - a part vs. part

part (mass noun) is close to "some", it means some but not all thing. a part (countable) is a separate piece of something that you can combine with other pieces. It has been always a problem for me to choose the right one. For example: I think there's always a part of you that doubts what you're doing. But I can say " some part of you always doubts," so then it is not a separate thing and then why " a part " was used in the sentence?

etymology - Did English ever have a formal version of "you"?

From the top of my head, Danish " De " (practically never used), German " Sie ", Chinese " 您 ", French " vous ", Spanish " usted " are a formal way of addressing someone, especially if one isn't familiar with the addressee. Did English ever have this? It sounds as though Proto-Indo-European might have had this (based on my 4 examples), but perhaps someone can enlighten me? Answer Yes it did, and the formal version was (drumroll, please....) you . In Early Modern English, thou was the singular and you was the plural. Plural you came to be used as a polite form of address (similar to the French vous , which is also used for the plural), but over time this polite form became more and more common, eventually displacing the singular thou altogether. This explains a peculiarity of traditional Quaker speech, which one often hears in films set in the early Americas. The Quakers opposed making any distinctions of rank, so they insisted ...

grammar - What is the difference between "It is necessary for him to do something" and "It is necessary that he do something"?

It is necessary for him to do something. It is necessary that he do something. I know the second one is subjunctive and I know that it is used for command, demand, etc. I want to know what difference does it make in the meaning? Is subjunctive used in spoken language? Examples: It is necessary for Tom to arrive at 5. It is necessary that Tom arrive at 5.

syntax - Is there a term for using a word twice in a row, but in a grammatically-appropriate way?

For example: "I could tell he had had a great time at the circus." If you're not repeating the word for emphasis, is there a term for the sequential usage, other than "coincidence"?

Can the "don't" contraction be expanded when used as a command?

I refer to the usage of "don't" as an imperative to tell someone what not to do. As in, Hey! Don't you dare touch that button! When it is used in the interrogative or as part of a statement, "don't" can be expanded like most other contractions. It either just breaks up right in the sentence, or surrounds the subject. Don't you love me, Juanromeo? -> Do you not love me, Juanromeo? I don't love you, Marijuliet. -> I do not love you, Marijuliet. However, I have no idea how one breaks up the imperative. "Do you not dare[...]" sounds like it's a lead up to a question, "You do not dare[...]" comes across as a statement moreso than a command, and "Do not you dare[...]" just sounds silly. "Don't" is a bit unique among "not" contractions (at least that I know of) because it is the only one that can be used in an imperative sense. Couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't, haven't, is...

word choice - What would be another term for a person in their 50s and 60s other than "boomer" or "Gen-Xer"?

What would be another term for a person in their 50s and 60s other than "boomer" or "Gen-Xer"? People in their late 50s are technically baby-boomers, but "boomers" doesn't quite fit. People in their early 50s are "Gen-Xers" but that name has lost its meaning. What could be some good names for people that are older, in general? Elderly and even senior-citizen are just awful names! What are some positive and non-ageist names for these people?