20
votes
“What’s wrong with single word requests?”
TL;DR
Single-word requests are not the problem, they are just the kind of questions where some problems (in particular lack of guidance) predominantly manifest themselves. Only addressing these ...
- 4,346
16
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
For the most part, the first-time posters who submit one-word answers followed by a little filler to meet the minimum character count are not interested in anything more than participating in a quiz-...
- 161k
16
votes
Accepted
Warn people of the rules for [Single-Word-Requests] before posting
Per Laurel's request, this is one potential wording. The answer is Community Wiki so please feel free to edit for brevity, clarity, and felicity (but if you fundamentally disagree with the listed ...
14
votes
How to answer single-word-request when a single word exists, but a multi-word phrasing is preferable?
Sometimes people ask single-word-requests because they expect there's some easy-to-understand, fairly common word that they just don't know yet or have forgotten. Other times they really need a single ...
- 26.4k
13
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
tl;dr: Leaving these lying around just encourages others to follow their bad example. We don't want that to happen. Deleting is good for the site.
SLAs are NARAs
We used to have “Not A Real ...
tchristMod
- 134k
12
votes
Accepted
Is this forum appropriate for teachers of English as a second language?
It depends. English Language & Usage might be what you are looking for if you are interested in the details and nuance of the language. On the other hand, if you are wondering about how to ...
Kit Z. FoxMod
- 27.7k
12
votes
Warn people of the rules for [Single-Word-Requests] before posting
The message needs to be short and easy enough for less competent speakers to understand
To get the best answers, please include the following:
A sample sentence showing how the word would ...
- 89.9k
11
votes
Why is suggesting words on word suggestion questions insufficient?
I see two problems.
(i) Your answer is a list of ideas, suggestions, or opinions, not a definite answer. A Stack Exchange answer answers the question, or at least part of the question, once and for ...
- 28.3k
11
votes
Accepted
Single-word-request rule clarification needed
I agree with Andrew Leach's comment that closure as opinion-based is a bit odd, given that to some degree all SWRs are seeking an opinion on what might be the right word to use. However, I'm guessing ...
9
votes
How should reviewers (and other users) handle SLAs to SWRs?
It is important to get a hopeless answer in the VLQ queue ASAP because: (1) after 7 days, the answer can't be flagged VLQ; and, (2) long before then, it may attract enough undeserved upvotes to be ...
- 26.2k
9
votes
Accepted
Can a newly constructed word answer a single word request?
A question asking for people to coin a word is out of scope for this site. A coinage in an answer might be in scope, depending on how well-reasoned it is.
If the answer is a coinage which follows ...
- 28.3k
9
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
Sven Yargs points out that the problem is with poorly supported but otherwise correct answers; tchrist advocates deletion of single-line answers (SLAs) because they are not real answers. MετάEd ...
- 38.3k
9
votes
Accepted
How to answer single-word-request when a single word exists, but a multi-word phrasing is preferable?
I've always thought a brief, more-than-one-word phrase ought to be an acceptable answer for a single word request, particularly when the suggestion is, say, a phrasal verb, a multiword expression (MWE)...
- 58.6k
8
votes
Single word requests, crosswords, and the fight against mediocrity
Word and phrase requests are the most interesting part of this site in my opinion. It's the only time I see idioms and expressions and words I've never seen before and learn new ones. It's always ...
- 12.4k
8
votes
“What’s wrong with single word requests?”
I accept that we see a ton of bad SWRs every day that show almost zero research effort. Those bad apples shouldn't make us ban the "requests" concept entirely.
Sometimes even tech-savvy users like me ...
NVZMod
- 22.6k
8
votes
Three SWRs suddenly closed for being POB
Regardless of one's stance on the desirability of SWRs in general, I cannot see how anyone could fail to agree that at least the first two of the linked questions were unresearched and underspecified, ...
- 59.2k
8
votes
How can word choice questions be closed for being opinion-based?
The word-choice tag is for questions which are making a choice between a known set of words.
Your question is not about choosing the most appropriate from a list you have already curated. You are ...
Andrew LeachMod
- 100k
7
votes
Accepted
Naming vs. Single word requests
If you're able to follow the following steps, your question is most likely on-topic:
You have a sentence where you'd use the word. (And not some weaselly sentence like "I should call it _____.&...
LaurelMod
- 64.3k
7
votes
Warn people of the rules for [Single-Word-Requests] before posting
I have a qualm with this, in that we need to consult a community moderator. That makes altering these rules harder if ever deemed necessary. I dislike that the contextual sentence requirement can ...
- 4,521
7
votes
Why is suggesting words on word suggestion questions insufficient?
I placed those notices. The reason why we’re looking for longer answers that supply your own explanations is perhaps best answered by this recent guidance from the Stack Exchange CM team about this, ...
tchristMod
- 134k
6
votes
How to answer single-word-request when a single word exists, but a multi-word phrasing is preferable?
If a single word exists, but a phrase is better, then say that in your answer.
Include the single word to satisfy the explicit request for one, and then say that even though that word exists, there's ...
- 2,125
6
votes
Is this forum appropriate for teachers of English as a second language?
Based on the following statements you made, I believe you will be quite welcome here:
I've participated in answering questions and asking them.
I strive to develop my understanding of grammar, ...
- 22.3k
6
votes
Accepted
Three SWRs suddenly closed for being POB
"It would be more honest to just ban SWRs outright if they are the bane of the site." Exactly so. Sporadically using "Primarily opinion based" as a close reason for single-word requests (and phrase ...
- 161k
5
votes
Naming vs. Single word requests
Unfortunately, I can't think of a simple criterion that can be used to determine if a question is "naming" or not.
The class of name requests that seems most solidly off-topic to me is composed of ...
- 79.1k
5
votes
Should EL&U clarify with other SE sites what constitutes a suitable single-word-request?
No, ELU has nothing to clarify with other sites. ELU's standards are its own to determine.
But a good general rule for every site is that if you suggest another site to ask a question on, that you ...
- 5,692
5
votes
Single word requests, crosswords, and the fight against mediocrity
Of all of the topics on this site, this is the one that I enjoy the most. When it's done well.
There's nothing worse that having a question asked without a clear set of guidelines for what type of ...
- 37.9k
5
votes
Are word requests allowed?
I'll preface this by stating that it's Good for the Internet to have a Google-able worldwide-crowdsourced reverse dictionary.
The question thus is whether the community here (English.SE) wants to ...
- 6,959
5
votes
On deleting low quality single-word-request answers
Once a post has gone to moderation, the resolution is moderator’s choice. Deletion is a perfectly reasonable choice when the post does not belong on the site. Deletion leaves the site clean while also ...
- 28.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Why I enjoy EL&U users more than dictionaries
When writing a question, above all, it should be your own question, and when writing an answer, it should be your own expert answer. Do not post questions or answers from elsewhere on the Internet.
[…]...
- 89.9k
4
votes
Accepted
Redirect for SWRs?
It is no secret that I hate SWRs. If we had one or two really good ones every week, I wouldn't mind so much, but we have bunches of crappy ones all the time. I like the idea of directing them to ...
Kit Z. FoxMod
- 27.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible