TASK DEFINITION: Generate the answer for a given question. The question requires common knowledge of English. Make sure that the answer is in detail, long, consistent with the context, and requires general knowledge of English. To be less repetitive, please vary your language for each question. Give a proper explanation to answer, and if necessary, provide the definition of various terms. And conclude your answer if it's long. If you have used other resources (e.g., Merriam Webster's.) to answer the question, include citations in your answer. You don't need to paraphrase the context of your resources, but make sure that your answer is consistent and complete.
PROBLEM: On a Physics specification, it says: 6.7 Know how to use two permanent magnets to produce a uniform magnetic field pattern. Isn't it 'produce an uniform magnetic field', or is the existing 'produce a uniform magnetic field pattern' correct?.

SOLUTION: The word uniform begins with a palatal approximant /j/. The palatal approximant is a consonantal sound, even though the letter itself is a vowel. Since we use the pronunciation of the word following the article to determine whether we use 'a' or 'an', and because it is pronounced starting with a consonant, we use 'a'. Thus, the original sentence is correct. Just for the sake of completeness, the letter 'u' can also have a vowel sound, such as in the word 'umbrella', which begins with an open-mid back unrounded vowel //.

PROBLEM: I've been reading Michael Innes books again (in this case 'From London Far'), and I came across the word gratricidal, in the a passage about a Scottish castle... Castle Moila was famous alike in legend, history, and fiction. To these courts Magnus Barelegs has brought fire; Donald, Lord of the Isles, a traitor's promise; Macleod of Lewis a gratricidal knife. Here had come Prince Charles Edward, thwarted of a throne, and daughters of a hereditary captain had offered him manchets and wine. So what is gratricide? Attempts to find this online are stymied by the spelling being corrected to fratricide.

SOLUTION: Magnus Barelegs, named in the question, was Magnus Olafsen who ruled in the 11th century. Therefore the 'MacLeod of Lewis' mentioned must be contemporary, or perhaps somewhat later. The Lewis branch of the clan MacLeod, descended from Leod, a son of Olaf the Black, was a notoriously bloodthirsty family, particularly among themselves : The traditional progenitor of the Macleods was Leod, whom tradition made a son of Olaf the Black, King of Mann and the Isles. Tradition gave Leod two sons, Tormod - progenitor of the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan (Siol Tormoid); and Torquil - progenitor of the Macleods of Lewis (Siol Torcaill). In the 16th and early seventeenth centuries the chiefly line of the Clan Macleod of The Lewes was extinguished due to family infighting. This feuding directly led to the fall of the clan, and loss of its lands to the Clan Mackenzie. The modern line of chiefs of Clan Macleod of The Lewes are represented by the leading family of a cadet branch of the clan - the Macleods of Raasay. ScotWeb Thus the reference is almost certainly a misprint for 'fratricide'. Note : As one of the Johnstones of Annan (Numquam non Paratus - 'never unprepared') whose ancestors were prone to sneak over the border and raid the English, one can make no criticism of other Scottish clans.

PROBLEM: Possible Duplicate: Should I say 'Your order is now complete' or 'Your order is now completed'? What is better, 'complete' or 'completed'? I want to know which sounds the most encouraging. Which of these two promotes more of an elation or satisfaction of accomplishment. Personally I'm leaning towards 'completed' as the 'd' suffix bring a more substantial and abrupt ending, which to me more clearly signifies the significance of the accomplished item.

SOLUTION:
Complete, unlike completed, implies something whole or full. Completed means finished, accomplished, or done. A lot of the meaning overlaps, but I think completed gives a better sense of accomplishment, though it really depends on how you're using it.

