Ask James Wane a questionLost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.
Ask James Wane a questionWe want to connect the people who have knowledge to the people who need it, to bring together people with different perspectives so they can understand each other better, and to empower everyone to share their knowledge.
Create A New Account
Why are the British confused about us calling bread rolls “biscuits” when they call bread rolls “puddings”?
James Wane
We aren’t, and we don’t. You are misinformed. In Britain, the word ‘biscuit’ means a hard baked cookie, like a graham cracker. Since this is the normal use of this word in the UK, we don’t automatically think of the plain scone-type baked goods for which Americans use the word ‘biscuit’. US EnglishRead more
How do native speakers tell I’m foreign based on my English alone?
James Wane
Because non-native speakers use English differently as compared to native speakers. It’s… it’s as simple as that. I can also usually tell within the first few moments of talking to somebody on the internet whether they are from a native English-speaking country or not. They’ll use slightly differentRead more
Is this statement, “i see him last night” can be understood as “I saw him last night”?
James Wane
No, ‘I see him last night’ is always incorrect and will be only just barely understandable. It is a very serious and basic error, and it will be tiring for a native speaker to converse with someone who speaks like this, because they will constantly have to be remembering what the person really meansRead more
Google Analytics reads like a seismic chart lately
James Wane
My clients have seen big changes the last couple of weeks, but all for the good thankfully. The “Fred” update was a biggie and it looks like some websites that have massive ads with little quality content got hit hard. I saw one post where their traffic plummeted 95% and they are virtually invisibleRead more
What is a nice way to end an interview that is clearly going badly?
James Wane
Well, you probably are ending things politely so I’m leaving that part out. What I have experienced and have tried to apply since it happened to me as an applicant is offering advice. Interviews are a great experience not only for getting a job but for finding your weaknesses and knowledge gaps. IfRead more
Does Google force employees who have offers from Facebook to leave immediately?
James Wane
I know people who left Google for Facebook, they were not walked out. Why would they be walked out of Google? Because facebook competing with Google? I have left Google twice, both times for Apple, in both cases Apple was a competing organization, in all cases I had a good talk with my managers up aRead more
Is there an English equivalent to the French expression: “il faut d’abord apprendre à marcher avant de courir”?
James Wane
“you need to learn to walk before you can run” is a well known expression in English. It’s perfectly natural in English.
How to approach applying for a job at a company owned by a friend?
James Wane
I’ve had two times I’ve gotten involved in new business start-ups by friends, and both times it ended badly. Not horrible, we were screaming at each other, friendship ruined forever badly, but things didn’t work out, I wanted out of this deal but now it’s awkward badly. Any time something like thisRead more
How do I tell my new employer that I can’t use the computer they gave me?
James Wane
The company I work for does not allow personal computers on the network. It’s viewed as a breach of network security. Personally, if I find myself in your situation, I would make the case that the computer provided to me is not up to standard and will impede my productivity, and request a new machinRead more
Which graduate program should I choose – SUNY Buffalo or SUNY Binghamton?
James Wane
Both are great schools, but one is likely a better fit for you. The best way to find out is to do a little more research in the real world. Visit campus, talk to faculty and grad students, and get a sense of what the area is like. Your highly evolved brain is like an amazing computer that can procesRead more