Make a living AT/IN? Hi everybody, While reading a book I came across this expression: "make a living". Now, I checked the usage of the expression because I wasn't sure about the correct preposition to use with it. In the original context the preposition AT was employed, and I quote: An intelligent person who has some interest in philosophical reflection but who doesn't make a living at it. Surprisingly, the expression can be used with a wide range of prepositions (in, from, by, with, out of) and even no preposition at all. Now my question is: what would be the reason to use AT in particular? What specific sense does it convey? Thanks in advance!

Pal - possible meanings Hi everyboy, According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the word "PAL" can be used either as a synonym of "friend" or a way of addressing "a man who is annoying you". The thing is, how can I tell the difference? Is it more common for this word to be used in a friendly or unfriendly way? Also, is it used all around English speaking countries? Or just in America? Thanks in advance!

The ship stranded in the shore The ship STRANDEd in the shore and for that reason it FELL BEHIND WITH the delivers it was supposed to do. But the DWELLERS of some houses near the beach helped the crew to take the ship to the sea once again. It was a TIRESOME job to do, but they performed the task EARNESTLY. The words in capital letters are the ones I'm learning. I want to know if they fit semanticly with the context. Thanks in advance!

Alice in Wonderland's script Hi everybody! For a very long time I have been wondering why does the Mad Hatter use the object pronoun HIM instead of HER when referring to Alice in this part of the script: Dormouse: McTwisp brought us the wrong Alice. March Hare: It's the wrong Alice! Mad Hatter: It's absolutely Alice. You're absolutely Alice. I'd know you anywhere. I'd know him anywhere. Any idea? Thanks!

Is this sentence correct? Hi everybody, I would like to know if this sentence is correct: Descriptive grammar: it looks at the way a language is actually used by its speakers, and not how it should be. Would it be necessary to add something to that sentence to make full sense? I can think of this possibility: Descriptive grammar: it looks at the way a language is actually used by its speakers, and not (AT?) how it should be (SPOKEN?) Thanks in advance!