instruction:
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.
question:
This is a question for English wordsmiths. Is there a word that 'feels' like the word 'ethereal' that means something ethereal that quickly disappears. Or is 'ethereal' the correct word choice for this? Ethereal was the first word that popped into my head for this. From the various definitions that I've looked at for ethereal, it says delicate, beautiful, heavenly, etc. but not necessarily quickly vanishing, except for the secondary definitions related to ether that suggests it evaporates. I'm just wondering if there is a better word than this. I'm using the term 'ethereal skill' to describe a certain type of pilot skill (instrument flying) that requires tremendous practice to achieve proficiency, and once proficiency is achieved it is a beautiful thing, but if you don't practice it regularly, that skill vanishes after a few weeks. USAGE: Instrument proficiency is an ethereal skill that once obtained must be maintained through constant and regular practice.
answer:
You are probably looking for the word ephemeral. ephemeral: Lasting for a very short time.


question:
The B strings tuned w/ low E 7th fret harmonic-(6th string,7th fret).
answer:
The shorthand w/ is used to mean with. 2 pieces toast w/ gravy Is a shorter way of writing 'Two pieces of toast with gravy.' The B strings tuned w/ low E 7th fret harmonic-(6th string,7th fret). means 'The B strings tuned with low E, 7th fret harmonic . . .' Edited to add: As Denis de Bernardy correctly notes in the comment below, w/o means the opposite: without.


question:
I am writing a technical thesis and find myself using the word the an awful lot. Here are some examples (I spare the technical gibberish): The main purpose of the presented applications is to visualize roses in space. The user can run around and experience the roses from different angles. The position of the roses can be stored in the ROS-fileformat. I tried to ask Google, but it filters out the main word the, which makes it impossible to find anything.
answer:

Perhaps use the indefinite article 'a' sometimes instead? Or refer to things in general (or plural) or as mass nouns, so you avoid articles (see the first point here, and see this guide to how you can use nouns without articles). The main purpose of the presented applications is to visualize roses in space. A user can run around and experience the roses from different angles. And clauses to promote flow without always referring to a subject immediately: The main purpose of the presented applications is to visualize roses in space. By running around, a user can experience roses from different angles. Positions of the roses can be stored in ROS-file formats.


