How can I use “must have been”? - English Language & Usage Stack ...
Must have been can have two meanings— it depends on the text. Must have p.p. doesn't always mean that, for instance, something did not occur— it might occur. For instance: Clerks must have been in...
"could have" vs. "could have been" - English Language & Usage Stack ...
Nov 13, 2013 · Can somebody explain when to use could have and could have been and under what circumstances? Please explain with an example. Is it something to do with the active (could have) …
Always has been / has always been - English Language & Usage Stack …
Aug 6, 2020 · Has always been is grammatical. Adverbs are placed between the auxiliary verb (has) and the main verb (been). This is evident in this sentence: "He's always been fun."
Heretofore I think I have been using 'heretofore' incorrectly
Jul 25, 2025 · I was looking into the definition of the word 'heretofore' and I think I have been using it incorrectly. I was hoping to get some clarification. Based on googling the definition I get, for example,...
The origin of slang GOAT (in a field) for the "greatest of all time"
Sep 22, 2022 · In 2000, LL Cool J helped to popularize the word as a definition for greatest, when he released an album titled, “G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time).” He credited Ali for its origin in a 2016 …
The meaning of "splurge" - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Jan 12, 2025 · 8 What is the meaning of "splurge" here? There has recently been a splurge of teach-yourself books. I'm guessing here it means a surge, burst, or sudden abundance, but the definition of …
adverbials - "has long been" or "has been for a long time" - English ...
Apr 8, 2016 · The rephrasing of your sample sentence, "Smoking has been linked to lung cancer for a long time," is more casual, and a bit less emphatic to my ear. I would not say it's better. For a …
"The point is moot" - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Jan 3, 2013 · The ancestral meaning, regarding moot court, may still be in use in some places, but I will focus on the other definition. Definition: moot point (plural moot points) An issue that is subject to, or …
meaning - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Left in its wake are the would-be superlative overwhelm (which, rather than actually meaning "more than whelmed", has simply taken over its parent's definition) and its opposite underwhelm. The only …
What does 'nuance' mean and how do I use it in sentences?
I don't know why, but despite having read the definition over too many times to count, its one of those words that just doesn't click. I see it being used in sentences and have never been able to f...