Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2011 August 8

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August 8

Homework questions

Why do some questions look like homework questions? Is there some linguist who studied the style of them? Give three examples and explain your answer. Quest09 (talk) 21:52, 8 August 2011 (UTC)

Well done. And, why do they? I would guess it's because (let's deal with the ones which aren't homework questions, but just look like them) people think of us as being an academic source, and therefore phrase their questions in an academic way. I doubt a linguist has studied the style (just doubt, I haven't checked), but I am pretty sure there are guidelines somewhere. Sorry, sir, I am unable to give examples, but I can give you an apple after class :) --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 21:58, 8 August 2011 (UTC)

Most of them are phrased as instructions rather than questions, and without a please or a thank you. They also tend not to be set in the real world, e.g. "ignore air resistance" or "a perfect sphere".--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:26, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

A related feature is that HQs tend to be very specific, e.g. giving exact numbers; a less homeworky way to ask the same question would replace the numbers by variables, and ask "How do I find ...?". —Tamfang (talk) 01:05, 12 August 2011 (UTC)

he(r) hair would been on fire

One my career developing counselor mention at my meeting mention her hair would've been on fire, because I have a obsessive discussion with Alicia Parkway. What does that phrase "Our hair would been on fire" means. She said because I insist on discussion Alicia Parkway exclusively, does that mean a listener would been insane, or for listener that meant I would keep talking about the same topic (Alicia Pkwy and Marguerite Pkwy) without regarding listeners interest.--69.229.5.134 (talk) 23:28, 8 August 2011 (UTC)

Clarification for other editors: Both Alicia Parkway and Marguerite Parkway appear to be the names of roads in California, and not the names of persons. --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 23:40, 8 August 2011 (UTC)

The metaphorical phrase "hair on fire" implies doing something in a franticly, or in a hurry, or rushing through something, or working fast as though you have something better to do. As in "She did that job as though her hair were on fire", usually means that she's got to do this job FAST, so that she can put the fire out in her hair, which is pretty urgent in itself. You may find this page to be enlightening on the history and usage of the phrase. --Jayron32 00:07, 9 August 2011 (UTC)