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Latest Posts : Expression
Does “hate with passion” sound wrong to you? Should it be “hate with a passion” instead?
One of the visitors to Pain in the English emailed us and asked if “hate with passion” is grammatically correct or not.
Here are some other similar phrases we can consider:
Sing with passion
Sing with a passion
Sing with feeling
Sing with a feeling
Say it with feeling
Say it with a feeling
When we analyze these expressions, we begin to feel that the article “a” adds some sense of specificity, like:
Sing with a passion befitting Pagliaccio!
Sing with a feeling of remorse!
Say it with a feeling of malaise!
Without the article, the word “passion” and “feeling” both remain abstract concepts.
What do you think?
I cringe when I read (a million times a week), “I am so sorry,” “I am so happy”...
It feels like there is part of the statement missing, like “I am so happy I could cry,” or “I am so sorry, I don’t know what to say.” Is “so anything” a legitimate phrase on its own? Or am I right in thinking it needs more?
I run. I ran. I had ran. I had run.
I went. I had went. I had gone.
There appear to be localized aberrations where people insist on saying “had ran” even though they know “had run” is proper. They seem to be victims of conforming to local language.
This group of people seems to me to come from a region. I grew up in California, and I never saw this. I started seeing it in Colorado. It was a little more common in Kansas. It was very common in GA. It always showed up in people who had moved west from eastern locations like MA, KY, DE, VA, WV, NC.
What is it that I am trying to say here? Peer pressure overrides language correctness? Is there a better way to refer to this?
Isn’t “agree the terms” simply bad form? The following is taken from today’s online Guardian in a quote from Theresa May: . . . the prime minister said she believed it was “necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the European Union”. Then as the article continues, the same usage appears in the Guardian’s own words: “The EU institutions and 27 remaining member states, however, have long said they were determined the divorce settlement, such as the rights of EU citizens in the UK and Britons on the continent and the size of Britain’s exit bill, must first be agreed before substantive talks on a future relationship could begin.”
Agree to the terms, yes; but agree the terms?
Be agreed upon, yes; but settlement be agreed before?
I have not run across this usage in US English, so is it something happening in British writing/speech?
Consider the following sentence: “Last year, the rent was $500, but now it’s risen to $1,000. The rent is two times higher than it used to be.”
To me, this sentence is misleading, since “two times higher” would mean starting with a value of $500 and duplicating it, twice (in other words, $500 + $500 x 2 = $1,500). It seems the correct sentence should read:
“The rent is two times as high as used to be.”
Are both forms acceptable? Unfortunately, it seems that the more confusing form (”two times higher”) has become more common.
Whilst I appreciate that it is increasingly less common to write or receive a letter these days - and that traditional usage has been Dear Sir/Madam->Yours truly/faithfully or Dear Mr Smith ->Yours sincerely - the few letters rarely follow these “rules”.
I have had (1) Dear Mr Smith without any closure from the UK Pensions Service, (2) Dear Mr Smith->Yours sincerely from the local power board, and (3) Hi Mr Smith->Until next time from my bank. Personally I have never used ‘Yours faithfully’ (which smacks of subservience) since the turn of the century, even when applying for a job. I do still use “Sincerely” in a few emails (particularly when making a complaint).
For the life of me, I cannot see why bygone formalities are still required for examinations such as the International English Language Test.
As to emails, it seems more difficult to be formal. Mostly I use “Hi + first name” and end with “Cheers”.
My question is what are other people in English-speaking countries experiencing? Is stuff like “Yours faithfully” “Yours truly” now passé? If so is there any reason to teach them?
This sentence:
“By securing a permanent US commitment to the defence of all its members from 1949 onwards, Nato changed the calculus confronting potential aggressors.”
appeared in this Daily Telegraph article.
I think I grasp what the author is getting at, but it does seem a most unusual and perhaps incorrect use of “calculus.”
Or am I behind the times once again?
The definitions of “go figure” that I found in various dictionaries do not match what I thought it meant. Is it just me?
Here are what I found:
“said to express the speaker’s belief that something is amazing or incredible.”
“used when you tell someone a fact and you then want to say that the fact is surprising, strange or stupid”
“Expresses perplexity, puzzlement, or surprise (as if telling somebody to try to make sense of the situation).”
I thought “go figure” meant the same as “duh!” or “just my luck”. That is, it’s obvious after the fact. It implies “I should have known.”
Let’s take some of the examples that appear in these dictionaries:
“The car wouldn’t start yesterday no matter what I did, but today it works just fine. Go figure.”
My interpretation of this is that, given how unlucky he is in general, in retrospect, it’s obvious that this happened to him again. It’s just part of being unlucky in general.
“She says she wants to have a conversation, but when I try, she does all the talking. Go figure.”
My interpretation for this is that she is already known to the speaker as a talkative person, but since she claims to want a conversation, the speaker gave her another chance, but again, all she does is talk not listen. Duh! The speaker should have known. It should not be a surprise to the speaker.
“The paint was really good, so they stopped making it - go figure, right?”
Again, what is implied here is not something surprising or unexpected; it’s the exact opposite. The speaker is being sarcastic. Because consumers have no appreciation for good products, they all fail, and bad products like Microsoft Windows thrive. “Duh! I should have known that they would stop making it.”
When people are genuinely surprised and puzzled about something, and they want someone to go figure it out. I generally hear people say, “figure that one out.” I find this very different from “go figure”. The latter has a sense of irony or sarcasm that the former does not have. It almost means the opposite. That is, “forget it, don’t even bother trying to figure it out because it’s just my luck,” or “don’t bother figuring it out because people are just stupid.”
Is it really correct to say such a thing as, “We are waiting on your mother,” when referring to the anticipation of the arrival of someone’s mother? It would seem to me that it would be more appropriate, if not more comfortable (at least for the lady), to “wait for your mother.”
One can wait on the corner, and one can wait on a table (if that is his profession), but does one really want to wait on his dinner?
It seems to me that the preposition “from” has been replaced by “on” when used in conjunction with the word “wait.”
It makes me cringe! Lately, I’ve heard it so often, I must look like a victim of St. Vitus Dance!
Does this
“The flu is going around. In order to keep from catching it, you should gargle and wash your hands regularly”
Make sense? I’ve never heard. “In order to keep from catching it.” used in a sentence before.
Latest Comments
“my” vs. “mine” in multiple owner possessive
- shrinepubliishers
- August 11, 2025, 12:01pm
great job on this post! it is simple,helpful, and easy to understand. you made the topic engaging and useful.keep sharing valuable content like this
Shrine Publishers | Open Access Peer-Reviewed Journals
"badly miscalculated" — double negatives?
- Lilidala
- August 11, 2025, 6:24am
In the world of RuneScape, few bosses inspire as much awe and challenge as Nex, the Ancient Summoner. Introduced in the God Wars Dungeon, Nex stands as one of the most demanding endgame PvE encounters, requiring skill, preparation, and teamwork. Whether you are an aspiring soloist or a group raider, mastering Nex offers some of the best rewards and one of the most thrilling experiences in RuneScape.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to conquer Nex — from understanding her mechanics and phases to choosing the best gear, tactics, and strategies for success.
Understanding Nex: Lore and Encounter Overview
Nex is a powerful Zarosian general who commands the forces of the Zaros faction in the God Wars Dungeon. Players face Nex in a multi-phase fight inside her chamber, each phase requiring quick reflexes and strategic adaptation.
The fight involves four distinct phases, each with its own abilities and minions. Your ability to recognize and counter her moves will decide your success or failure.
Preparing for the Fight: Gear and Inventory Setup
To stand a chance against Nex’s deadly arsenal, you must enter the fight with optimal gear and supplies.
Recommended Gear
Weapon: A strong melee weapon such as the Abyssal Bludgeon or Noxious Scythe for high damage output.
Armor: High defense sets like Torva (melee) or Seasinger (magic) depending on your combat style.
Cape: Fire cape, Infernal cape, or Max cape with offensive perks.
Amulet: Amulet of Torture (melee) or Amulet of Fury.
Ring: Ring of Vigour or Berserker ring (imbued if possible).
Boots: Dragon boots or Primordial boots.
Inventory
Super combat potions or equivalent stat-boosting flasks.
Prayer renewal potions or Saradomin brews for healing.
Food like Sharks or Rocktails for sustain.
Antifire potions and stamina potions.
Weapon poison or bleed weapons to boost damage over time.
The Four Phases of Nex: Mechanics Breakdown
Phase 1: Smoke Phase
Nex summons smoke clouds that explode if you step inside them, dealing heavy damage.
Use ranged or magic attacks to hit Nex while avoiding the smoke.
She casts Smoke Tendrils — avoid the pools that damage over time.
Strategy: Stay mobile, kite her around the arena, and use abilities that allow safe damage.
Phase 2: Shadow Phase
Nex summons shadow minions that drain your stats.
She uses Shadow Tendrils — they latch onto players, requiring quick removal.
Prioritize killing minions quickly and stay aware of your stat drains.
Use Antipoison and stat-boosting prayers as necessary.
Phase 3: Blood Phase
Nex heals herself by draining blood from the arena.
She attacks with Blood Tendrils, which you must sever quickly or suffer damage.
Avoid pools of blood that can immobilize you.
Team coordination is crucial here to cut tendrils and avoid AoE damage.
Phase 4: Ice Phase
Nex freezes players in place with Ice Tendrils.
Players must quickly destroy tendrils or free frozen teammates.
Nex becomes more aggressive and uses freezing attacks.
Stay alert, use freedom or break free abilities, and focus on tendril destruction.
Combat Tips and Strategy
Prayer and Abilities
Use Protect from Melee during Nex’s melee attacks and switch to Protect from Magic or Protect from Ranged depending on the phase.
Utilize offensive prayers like Piety (melee) or Augury (magic) to increase damage.
Abilities like Debilitate reduce Nex’s damage, improving survivability.
Use Freedom or Anticipation to break free from tendrils.
Positioning
Positioning is vital to avoid smoke, shadow, blood, and ice pools.
Use safe spots to maximize damage while minimizing incoming attacks.
Always be ready to move quickly to sever tendrils or avoid AoEs.
Team Coordination
When fighting in groups, assign roles such as tendril destroyers, crowd control, and DPS.
Communicate about tendril status and health to optimize healing and focus.
Keep track of Nex’s health and prepare for phase transitions.
Rewards and Progression
Defeating Nex yields some of the most coveted loot in RuneScape, including:
Zaryte bow
Nex set pieces
Torva, Pernix, and Virtus armor parts
God Wars Dungeon unique drops
These rewards can significantly boost your combat power and allow you to tackle even tougher content.
Conclusion
Mastering Nex, the Ancient Summoner, is a milestone achievement in RuneScape. By understanding her phases, preparing the right gear, and executing careful strategies, you can overcome this formidable boss and claim its legendary rewards. Whether you choose to fight solo or with a team, Nex offers a challenging and rewarding test of your PvE skills.
Prepare well, stay focused, and face the wrath of Nex with confidence! Boost your RuneScape adventure with RSgoldfast— your trusted source for fast, secure, and affordable RuneScape Gold. Power up today and conquer Gielinor with ease!
Past perfect with until
- Lilidala
- August 11, 2025, 6:23am
Dune: Awakening plunges players into the brutal world of Arrakis, where survival hinges on mastering both environment and combat. Among the many powerful abilities at your disposal, the Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath stands out as a game-changing skill that blends environmental destruction with lethal precision. This guide will dive deep into understanding, mastering, and maximizing the potential of this devastating sandstorm-based attack.
Understanding Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath
The Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath is a high-tier skill that summons a furious sandstorm around your character, dealing continuous area-of-effect (AoE) damage to nearby enemies while applying debuffs that weaken their defenses and reduce their accuracy. Unlike conventional attacks, this skill capitalizes on the volatile nature of the Arrakis environment, turning the harsh desert elements against your foes.
When to Use Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath
Timing and positioning are key when wielding the Reaper’s Wrath. This skill excels in:
Crowd Control: Use it to disperse groups of weaker enemies, quickly softening them up or outright killing clusters before they overwhelm you.
Boss Fights: While its damage-over-time effect is slower than a direct strike, the debuffs it applies make bosses more vulnerable to your team’s focused attacks.
Defensive Maneuvers: If you find yourself surrounded or retreating, activating this skill can create a protective zone that discourages enemies from advancing.
How to Unlock and Upgrade Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath
To access this skill, you’ll need to progress through the Desert Ascendancy skill tree, investing points in environmental manipulation and elemental mastery. Early investment in sandstorm synergy skills will boost the duration and damage of the Reaper’s Wrath.
Upgrades focus on:
Damage Increase: Boosts AoE damage output.
Debuff Strength: Intensifies enemy accuracy and defense reduction.
Duration Extension: Keeps the sandstorm active longer.
Cooldown Reduction: Allows more frequent use in combat.
Key Strategies for Mastery
1. Positioning is Everything
Since Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath affects a radius around you, standing too close to your enemies can sometimes put you at risk, especially if they have strong melee attacks. Position yourself strategically—ideally on the edge of enemy groups—to maximize damage while minimizing incoming harm.
2. Synergize with Team Abilities
Coordinate with your team to stack debuffs. While your sandstorm weakens enemies, allies can follow up with high-damage skills or crowd-control abilities to capitalize on reduced defenses. Communication during raids or PvP scenarios can turn Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath into a pivotal team asset.
3. Combine with Mobility Skills
Sandstorms can restrict your movement slightly. Pair this skill with abilities that enhance mobility or defensive buffs to maintain control over the battlefield without becoming an easy target.
4. Resource Management
Activating Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath consumes significant stamina or energy resources. Manage your resource pool carefully to avoid being caught defenseless once the sandstorm fades. Use potions or skill cooldowns to regenerate quickly.
Optimal Builds Featuring Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath
To get the most from this skill, consider integrating it into builds that focus on:
Elemental Mastery: Boosts all sand and wind-related effects, amplifying damage and debuff potency.
Survivability: Since you’ll be in the thick of combat, invest in defensive talents that increase resistance to physical and elemental damage.
Cooldown Efficiency: Lowering cooldowns allows more frequent use, increasing your presence on the battlefield.
Best Gear to Complement the Skill
Equipment that enhances environmental damage or reduces cooldowns pairs well with Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath. Look for:
Sandstorm Amulets: These increase sandstorm duration and damage.
Desert Raider Armor: Provides bonus resistance while using sand-based abilities.
Windblade Weaponry: Amplifies elemental attacks tied to wind or sand.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overusing Without Backup: Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath is powerful but can leave you vulnerable if used without team support or backup.
Ignoring Positioning: Standing in the wrong spot can lead to getting overwhelmed, especially against ranged enemies.
Neglecting Cooldowns: Without proper cooldown management, you might find yourself unable to use this skill when most needed.
PvP Applications
In player-versus-player combat, Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath can disrupt enemy formations and break through defensive lines. Use it to zone opponents, control choke points, and create openings for your team. Remember that skilled players will try to evade or interrupt the skill, so unpredictable timing and mobility are your best friends.
Conclusion
Mastering Sandstorm Reaper’s Wrath transforms you into a formidable force on Arrakis. By understanding its mechanics, optimizing your build, and practicing strategic use, you can dominate both PvE and PvP encounters. The desert’s fury is in your hands—unleash it wisely and watch your enemies fall beneath the wrath of the sandstorm. Fuel your rise on Arrakis—buy Solari from MMOexp.com for fast, safe, and affordable delivery.
Treatment of abbreviations and superscript items in full capital case
- Lilidala
- August 11, 2025, 6:22am
Lineage 2M, NCSoft’s expansive mobile MMORPG, offers players a rich world full of sprawling dungeons, massive PvP conflicts, and terrifying world bosses. One of the most legendary foes in the game is Antharas, the Earth Dragon. In "Shadowstrike of the Antharas Awakening," players must prepare to face this titanic creature while mastering one of the game’s most lethal rogue-style abilities — Shadowstrike. This guide walks you through building for Shadowstrike and defeating Antharas in his awakened form.
Understanding the Shadowstrike Skill
Shadowstrike is a high-damage assassination ability used primarily by dagger-wielding classes such as Treasure Hunter or Abyss Walker. It’s designed for quick burst damage and mobility, ideal for both PvE boss fights and PvP ambushes.
Skill Traits:
Type: Active Melee Skill
Effect: Deals massive critical damage from stealth or behind the target
Bonus: Increased crit rate and chance to ignore defense
Cooldown: Moderate (requires precise timing)
Shadowstrike excels when combined with speed boosts, evasion, and stealth mechanics, allowing you to slip past guards or raid bosses’ AoEs for pinpoint lethal strikes.
Building the Shadowstrike Assassin
To maximize Shadowstrike’s potential, you need to optimize your character for speed, precision, and critical output.
Class Path
Start: Rogue
Advanced: Treasure Hunter / Abyss Walker
Specialization: Choose abilities that boost crit rate, evasion, and stealth duration.
Key Stats to Prioritize:
DEX (Dexterity): Increases accuracy and evasion
STR (Strength): Boosts melee damage and critical power
AGI (Agility): Reduces cooldowns and increases attack speed
Recommended Gear:
Weapon: Dual Daggers or Enhanced Assassin’s Blade
Armor: Light armor sets with evasion, speed, and crit bonuses (e.g., Phantom Set)
Accessories: Crit rings, evasion earrings, and cooldown reduction pendants
Enchantments: Focus on crit rate, movement speed, and backstab damage
Preparing for the Antharas Awakening Raid
Antharas, the Earth Dragon, is one of the mightiest world bosses in Lineage 2M. He awakens periodically and requires a full alliance raid or a highly-coordinated party to bring down. His mechanics challenge even veteran players.
Entry Requirements:
Character level 55+ recommended
Gear enhancement level +6 or higher
Access to the Dragon Valley Cave – Core Chamber
Time-limited event participation (Antharas Awakening events are typically scheduled weekly)
Antharas Awakening Boss Mechanics
Antharas uses a combination of AoE earth magic, tail swipes, summons, and rage phases. Knowing his patterns is critical for survival.
Phase 1: Earth Shockwaves
Antharas uses wide-range ground slams.
Spread out to minimize damage stacking.
Melee DPS should flank the rear and sides.
Phase 2: Stone Summons
He summons golems to protect him.
DPS should quickly clear adds to avoid overwhelming support roles.
Shadowstrike users can burst down casters or healers among the mobs.
Phase 3: Rage Awakening
At 30% HP, Antharas becomes enraged.
Increased damage and faster attack patterns.
He uses Roar of Destruction, which can one-shot undergeared players.
Shadowstrike Strategy vs. Antharas
Using Shadowstrike effectively during the Antharas fight requires both timing and stealth mobility.
Before Combat:
Use stealth abilities to close the gap safely.
Coordinate with your tank to avoid aggroing Antharas prematurely.
Activate buffs and cooldown reduction potions.
During Combat:
Circle around to Antharas’ back and wait for a moment when he’s not performing AoEs.
Use Shadowstrike when your crit chance is boosted (via buffs or class passives).
After attacking, immediately disengage to avoid retaliation — use skills like Evasion Roll or Shadow Retreat.
Mob Control:
During the Stone Summons phase, switch targets and use Shadowstrike to snipe high-priority mobs (casters or healers).
Shadowstrike’s burst makes it ideal for deleting low-HP mobs instantly.
Team Coordination Tips
Assign Shadowstrike users to flank Antharas and handle rear-side DPS responsibilities.
Tanks must maintain threat while leaving the back clear for assassins to operate.
Healers should prioritize movement-based healing to support mobile DPS like Shadowstrikers.
Voice or in-game chat is essential to coordinate AoE avoidance and burst damage phases.
Loot and Rewards
Defeating Antharas offers high-end loot including:
Earth Dragon Jewelry (rare accessories)
Dragon Scale Fragments (used for crafting)
Unique Dagger Blueprints
Antharas Rune Crystals (enhance Earth-elemental resistances and skills)
Shadowstrike assassins especially benefit from the Antharas Cloak, which boosts critical damage from behind and improves stealth duration.
Final Thoughts
In Lineage 2M: Shadowstrike of the Antharas Awakening, mastering both a deadly assassin build and one of the game’s most dangerous bosses offers a uniquely satisfying experience. Shadowstrike brings high-risk, high-reward gameplay, and when paired with strategic movement and precision, it can turn the tide of the battle.
Antharas may be a colossal threat, but with the right build, smart tactics, and a well-prepared team, even the mightiest dragon can fall to the blade of a silent killer.
So sharpen your daggers, step from the shadows, and let the Earth Dragon feel the sting of your Shadowstrike. Power up your journey in Lineage 2M with MMOexp.com fast, safe, and affordable Diamond services. Trusted by players worldwide, we deliver the edge you need to dominate.
“my” vs. “mine” in multiple owner possessive
- Azure Trainings
- August 8, 2025, 11:28am
Really appreciate how clearly you explained the differences between reputable open access journals and potentially predatory ones. The checklist of red flags is especially useful for early-career researchers like me. This post is both informative and a great reminder to always verify before submitting our work. Thank you for sharing such valuable insights!Shrine Publishers | Open Access Peer-Reviewed Journals
Past perfect with until
- JamalAmeen
- August 1, 2025, 10:32am
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Treatment of abbreviations and superscript items in full capital case
- JamalAmeen
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Two egg or two eggs
- Hossam Fathy
- July 29, 2025, 2:44pm
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Why do sports teams take a definite article?
- Hossam Fathy
- July 29, 2025, 2:43pm
“my” vs. “mine” in multiple owner possessive
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Shrine Publishers | Open Access Peer-Reviewed Journals