Sep 16, 2011 · The choice of prepositions depends upon the temporal context in which you're speaking. "On ~ afternoon" implies that the afternoon is a single point in time; thus, that …

Apr 15, 2017 · If so, my analysis amounts to a rule in search of actual usage—a prescription rather than a description. In any event, the impressive rise of "free of" against "free from" over …

Feb 2, 2012 · What is the opposite of free as in "free of charge" (when we speak about prices)? We can add not for negation, but I am looking for a single word.

May 16, 2016 · On the house is a synonym of free because of its usage in bars across the United States and other English speaking countries to describe free drinks. If the bartender said that a …

Jul 7, 2018 · I want to make a official call and ask the other person whether he is free or not at that particular time. I think asking, “Are you free now?” does't sound formal. So, are there any …

Q&A for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts

The fact that it was well-established long before OP's 1930s movies is attested by this sentence in the Transactions of the Annual Meeting from the South Carolina Bar Association, 1886 And to …

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You'll need to complete a few actions and gain 15 reputation points before being able to upvote. Upvoting indicates when questions and answers are useful. What's reputation and how do I …

Aug 16, 2011 · 6 For free is an informal phrase used to mean "without cost or payment." These professionals were giving their time for free. The phrase is correct; you should not use it where …