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fandom_grammar2017-07-17 06:15 pm
randi2204) wrote in fandom_grammar2017-07-17 06:15 pm
Commonly confused words – ground vs. floor
Welcome back, grammar fans! fandom_grammar has a lighter schedule during these summer months, but fear not, we still have interesting grammar issues to discuss! Today we’ll be talking about a couple of words that are very commonly used in place of each other. Ground and floor aren’t exactly the same thing, and we’ll get into their differences with some help from the characters of Sherlock.
Let’s delve into ground first. The first and most obvious definition of ground is that it is the solid surface of the earth (or any other planet, for those extraterrestrials out there), meaning anything not covered by water. It can mean soil, earth, or sediment, which can be found either at the bottom of a river or ocean bed or at the bottom of your coffee filter, as in coffee grounds. It can also refer the land surrounding a house or other building, such as mansion grounds. In a military sense, it can refer to land or a position that is fought over, where soldiers may hold their ground.
Ground also has meanings and phrases associated with it that stem from its original definition, but are not directly related to the earth. These include: an electrical ground, grounds for dismissal, going to ground, from the ground up, and getting something off the ground.
All of this means that ground covers… well, a lot of ground. Here are some examples:
Floor, on the other hand, is a bit more restricted. The floor is the bottommost portion of a room or hallway, the part we walk on. A floor also means to each level or storey (story for us American types) of a building. Generally, floor is going to refer to something that’s inside.
As with ground, floor appears in common phrases which describe actions that may take place inside or outside. These include to have the floor, to wipe the floor with, and to be floored.
There are, however, some uses of floor where it can be used to describe things that are definitely outside, but they’re quite specific. You may have heard the forest floor or the ocean or sea floor used, but other than those cases, convention holds that you won’t want to use floor when your characters are outside and they fall down.
One of the examples for ground can be reworded:
We’ve one last point to cover, and that’s ground floor. While it could refer to the hard-packed dirt surface beneath a primitive hut, it is most often used to describe the lowest story in a multi-story building, being the floor that’s at the level of the ground.
Ground and floor are two very distinct words, though some usages do introduce confusion. But, except for the specific uses of forest floor and sea or ocean floor, ground is outside, and a floor is a formed surface which is man-made and inside.
Sources:
fandom_grammar has a lighter schedule during these summer months, but fear not, we still have interesting grammar issues to discuss! Today we’ll be talking about a couple of words that are very commonly used in place of each other. Ground and floor aren’t exactly the same thing, and we’ll get into their differences with some help from the characters of Sherlock.Let’s delve into ground first. The first and most obvious definition of ground is that it is the solid surface of the earth (or any other planet, for those extraterrestrials out there), meaning anything not covered by water. It can mean soil, earth, or sediment, which can be found either at the bottom of a river or ocean bed or at the bottom of your coffee filter, as in coffee grounds. It can also refer the land surrounding a house or other building, such as mansion grounds. In a military sense, it can refer to land or a position that is fought over, where soldiers may hold their ground.
Ground also has meanings and phrases associated with it that stem from its original definition, but are not directly related to the earth. These include: an electrical ground, grounds for dismissal, going to ground, from the ground up, and getting something off the ground.
All of this means that ground covers… well, a lot of ground. Here are some examples:
John shivered as they entered the trees. The ground was littered with dead leaves and branches, so he reasoned that at least they might hear the Hound coming.
Just as John reached for the kettle, Sherlock said, “Mind the coffee grounds.” John opened the kettle, sighed at the grainy residue burnt to the bottom, then glared at Sherlock until he hastily added, “It was an experiment. It didn’t go well.”
“Oh, do keep up, Lestrade!” Sherlock snapped. “We just saw the thief inside, so he couldn’t possibly have left the museum grounds yet.”
“But if he has, Sherlock,” Lestrade responded, clearly doing his best to hold onto his temper, “where would he be likely to go to ground?”
“Anderson,” Sherlock said, and John covered his eyes in dread, for that was Sherlock’s most withering tone, “a lack of basic intelligence such as yours should be grounds for immediate dismissal.”
Floor, on the other hand, is a bit more restricted. The floor is the bottommost portion of a room or hallway, the part we walk on. A floor also means to each level or storey (story for us American types) of a building. Generally, floor is going to refer to something that’s inside.
The hallway floor had recently been waxed, which turned John and Sherlock’s pursuit of the thief into a dozen pratfalls.
“What floor of the museum was the thief on?” Lestrade demanded.
As with ground, floor appears in common phrases which describe actions that may take place inside or outside. These include to have the floor, to wipe the floor with, and to be floored.
There are, however, some uses of floor where it can be used to describe things that are definitely outside, but they’re quite specific. You may have heard the forest floor or the ocean or sea floor used, but other than those cases, convention holds that you won’t want to use floor when your characters are outside and they fall down.
One of the examples for ground can be reworded:
John shivered as they entered the trees. The forest floor was littered with dead leaves and branches, so he reasoned that at least they might hear the Hound coming.
We’ve one last point to cover, and that’s ground floor. While it could refer to the hard-packed dirt surface beneath a primitive hut, it is most often used to describe the lowest story in a multi-story building, being the floor that’s at the level of the ground.
Ground and floor are two very distinct words, though some usages do introduce confusion. But, except for the specific uses of forest floor and sea or ocean floor, ground is outside, and a floor is a formed surface which is man-made and inside.
Sources:
no subject
One notation on (mis)usage that I see on occasion, usually with non-native English speakers & writers-- the misuse in not comprehending the difference between the adjs. in floored, meaning surprised, shocked, stunned, versus grounded, either in the American use of "teenagers who aren't allowed to socialize because of misconduct," or grounded, in the sense of someone who is down-to-earth, realistic, self-possessed, or however else you might describe that personality feature.
no subject
That's a very interesting observation, and makes sense that it trips up non-native English speakers, since those meanings definitely don't follow on from the "usual" definitions. For my part, I've mainly seen someone use "floor" when they really meant "ground," and don't think I've come across what you're describing - or done so infrequently enough that it hasn't stuck in my mind. Thanks so much for sharing that!
no subject