Monday 25 May 2015

Story, storey, stories and storeys

A storey (Australian English, British English, Canadian English, Indian English, New Zealand English) or story (American English) is any level part of a building that could be used by people (for living, work, storage, recreation, etc.). The plurals are "storeys" and "stories" respectively.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storey

 

Story, a recounting of a sequence of events

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story

 

Story, plural stories also storeys

The space in a building between two adjacent floor levels or between a floor and the roof

From http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/story

 

Story, plural stories

An account of incidents or events

A statement regarding the facts pertinent to a situation in question

From http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/story

Thursday 21 May 2015

Ink Colour Etiquette

Black for business, Blue for social correspondence, Red for correcting errors, Green for stocktaking

Today, I wouldn't use anything but black, blue-black, or conservative dark blue for business, official, or formal writing. The sky's the limit for personal use.

In my previous life as a college instructor I used red and green to make corrections on student papers

A notary once asked me not to sign documents with black ink, because it looks very much like a photocopy. So I avoid signing things in black

Many licenses, etc. must be signed in a colour other than black for legal purposes.

More at http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/85447-ink-color-etiquette/

 

As an attorney I try to make sure to always sign in blue so that I can easily tell the difference between original documents and copies.

More at http://badgerandblade.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-186131.html

 

Why not black? The clerks have asked me to go to blue (as well as other attorneys) because copy machines are so good now that it is hard to tell the difference between original orders and copies that are to be attested

More at http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/showthread.php?115340-Fountain-pen-ink-color-choice

Monday 18 May 2015

Kangaroo, Napoleon, etc. Types of pockets

Angled flap

Bellows

Besom

Bucket

Camp

Cargo

Denim top-stitched

Double

Epaulette

Flap

Jetted

Kangaroo

Mechanic’s

Napoleon

Patch

Petal

Shirt

Side

Ticket

Utility

Watch

Welt

Western

 

See more at

http://textileapex.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/different-pocket-types.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket

http://www.jacketreviews.com/Jacket-School/Napoleon-Pocket

Friday 15 May 2015

Keep the rubber on the road, and look out for squirrels and turkeys

Keep the rubber on the road: A cyclist’s way of saying “ride smart” (or “you better not be a turkey and crash because I want to jam hard today”).

Squirrels and turkeys: Some cycling lingo is just plain fuzzy. Squirrels are panicky or unstable riders who can't maintain a steady line, while turkeys are inexperienced riders. Be cautious around this wildlife to stay safe on the road.

See more cycling lingo at

http://www.bicyclesource.com/bicycling_glossary

http://greatist.com/fitness/ultimate-guide-cycling-lingo

http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2010/03/dictionary-of-bike-commuter-slang.html

Wednesday 13 May 2015

Elizabethan Manners - Cutlery

Food was taken from the serving dish using the tip of your knife to spear it and place it in your trencher, where you would eat it with your hands. Knives of the time period had very sharp tips for this purpose. People were constantly being told not to put the knife in their mouths and not to eat the food off the knife (which of course means they did that constantly).

Spoons were used to eat soft foods and broth out of the common dish, which is why it was rude to leave your spoon in the dish when you had eaten your share. Individuals did not have their own bowls to eat soupy dishes.

Forks existed, but these were generally two-tined forks used for carving meat, and not for individual dining. Delicate little forks might be used to eat sticky suckets in the fruit or banquetting course, but this is a very high-class affectation. Use of forks at court was a sign of depravity mentioned in political satires against Henri III.

All this eating with your hands means that they need frequent cleaning (it is bad manners to lick them). Napkins are heavily used. Ladies must have put them in their laps as they are not visible. Napkins are not always available -- the medieval approach was to take the long table-cloth hanging down on the side facing the guests, put it in your lap and use it to clean your hands. Eating without some kind of tablecloth is Not Done.

Extracted from http://www.latourdulac.com/manners/Elizabethan.htm

Monday 11 May 2015

Lets, Let’s or Lets us?

Q: "let's" is a short form of "let us", but does it have the same meaning? When is it better to say "let us" and not "let's"?

A1: They carry the same general meaning. Let us, though, is more emphatic; used for emphasis, and/or used formally.

A2: "Let's" is commonly used in modern English when you say:
Let's do something...
eg. Let's...play football, go to the cinema, have a pint down the pub, etc.
No one uses the original "Let us" form in this context anymore unless they are aristocracy!
eg. "I say old chap - let us go boating upon the river this afternoon what what!"
"Let us" is still used but in a different context and to mean "allow/permit us".
eg. allow us...to do something
...Let us in (to the house), Let us help you, etc.

See more at http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/5696-let-s-and-let-us

 

"let" we all know how to use
"Let" me borrow a pen.

"Lets" is to show action referring only to one thing.
My brother "lets" me hold his car.

"Let's" is a contraction word meaning let us.
"Let's" go to the mall. "Let us" go to the mall

See more at https://www.englishforums.com/English/LetsVsLets/gnbh/post.htm

Thursday 7 May 2015

Types of ladders

Assault ladder
Attic ladder
Bridge ladder
Cat ladder (US chicken ladder)
Christmas tree ladder
Counterbalanced ladder
Extension ladder or "telescopic ladder"
Fixed ladder
Folding ladder
Hook ladder or pompier ladder
Mobile Safety Steps or Platform
Orchard ladder
Retractable ladder
Roof ladder
Sectional ladder
Step ladder
Telescoping ladder
Trestle ladder,
Turntable ladder,
Vertically rising ladder
X-deck ladder

See more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladder

Monday 4 May 2015

Types of chairs

1.  Chair and a Half

2.  Wing Chair

3.  Chaise Longue

4.  Club Chair

5.  Occasional Chair

6.  Klismos Chairs

7.  Slipper Chair

See more at http://furniture.about.com/od/furnitureterms/tp/chairtypes.htm