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 ...
- 4,404
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 ...
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
- 27.9k
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 ...
- 92.3k
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 ...
- 28.6k
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 ...
- 3,202
9
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
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 ...
- 26.3k
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, ...
- 59.5k
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 ...
- 12.7k
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
- 103k
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
- 67.1k
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
- 136k
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 ...
- 4,551
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 ...
- 166k
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, ...
- 22.7k
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 ...
- 83.7k
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 ...
- 5,755
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 ...
- 38.2k
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.
[…]...
- 92.3k
4
votes
How should reviewers (and other users) handle SLAs to SWRs?
See: Lots of not-always-useful but well-intentioned answers
A single line answer should be removed even if it's not answering a word or phrase request. It is a comment posted as an answer.
Downvotes ...
- 28.6k
4
votes
Accepted
Are single word requests bad? Or are they great?
The voting interface indicates that the three close votes were for the following reason:
Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners ...
- 83.7k
4
votes
What to do about single-word-request answers that provide many answers?
If there are many possibilities, all of which are equally viable, the question may be in danger of being too open-ended.
In that case, the appropriate thing to do would be to narrow the question. ...
- 38.9k
4
votes
Against single word requests
Since this question has been asked, the information in the tag about what is required has been expanded significantly.
Back then, all that was said is
Use this tag for questions that are about ...
- 18.2k
3
votes
Warn people of the rules for [Single-Word-Requests] before posting
Adapt the Question Wizard from Stack Overflow. When (new) users ask a question they will be met by a Wizard who inquires about their question. When the Wizard establishes the asker has a single word ...
- 7,176
3
votes
Suggestion: Capping points that can be earned for a single-word request
It depends on exactly what you mean, which is 95% clear, but not 100% clear. I'm going to assume you mean capping at 200 rep points for each single word answer, in which case, thinking out loud here, ...
- 26.3k
3
votes
Is this forum appropriate for teachers of English as a second language?
I don't think that ESL teachers as a group will find major areas of disagreement with how semantics is treated on ELU.
How pragmatics is treated is more problematic, but that's hardly related to ...
- 85.8k
3
votes
How should reviewers (and other users) handle SLAs to SWRs?
Here's my take on this.
If I encounter a SLA to a SWR in a first-posts or late-answers review, shall I flag it and if yes, how?
While using the review queues, I am more inclined to flag SLAs as ...
NVZMod
- 22.6k
2
votes
Accepted
How should reviewers (and other users) handle SLAs to SWRs?
I post this answer to distil the other high-voted answers into a clear guideline and also to suggest a more suiting comment:
If you encounter an unreferenced answer to a single-word request (or ...
2
votes
What widely-accepted standards should be used to judge whether a single-word-request is too broad?
Before asking a question on EL&U, the querent should perform a detailed search on the Internet, failing that, even a perfunctory one is better than none at all. The OP should explain exactly, and ...
- 92.3k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible