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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
Ban and Bar
Hello,
What is the difference in meaning between: "It was an old-fashioned club from which women were barred/banned.", "The government is planning to bar/ban some foreign imports.", "The book was banned/barred from some school libraries." How do you differentiate between them?
What is the difference in meaning between: "It was an old-fashioned club from which women were barred/banned.", "The government is planning to bar/ban some foreign imports.", "The book was banned/barred from some school libraries." How do you differentiate between them?
Top answer
There is very little difference between them. Both signify prevention of action. A ban is a legal prohibition.
- There is very little difference between them.
- Both signify prevention of action.
- A ban is a legal prohibition.
- A bar is a physical block, but as in your examples, may be used metaphorically.
- I would prefer "bar" to "ban" in a description of a physical confrontation; I would prefer "ban" to "bar" in a purely legal sense.
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10 Answers
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There is very little difference between them. Both signify prevention of action. A ban is a legal prohibition. A bar is a physical block, but as in your examples, may be used metaphorically. I would prefer "bar" to "ban" in a description of a physical confrontation; I would prefer "ban" to "bar" in a purely legal sense.
The protesters advanced on the courthouse but were barred [
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The fans were barred from entering the golden circle in front of the stage. - It happens before they enter the circle, yes?
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Yes, if they entered the circle, they weren't stopped, so they weren't barred.
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A man from England told me that in the 70s, women were not allowed to buy drinks for themselves or anyone else. A young lady walked into the pub and said that she wanted two glasses of cider. The barmaid said to her: "You are barred. Get out!" She had already walked into the pub, but she was barred. Shouldn't the barmaid have said: "Women are banned from the pub. Get out now! What do you think?
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Was she barred from entering the club or barred from buying cider?
What do I think? I think women should be allowed to buy cider, especially for me.
What do I think? I think women should be allowed to buy cider, especially for me.
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Your man from England was slightly exaggerating matters. By the 1970s there were few men-only bars left in England, though quite a few men-only private clubs. Even in places where women were not permitted, or not permitted to buy drinks, the barmaid would almost certainly have said "I'm sorry, madam, but only gentlemen can be served at the bar".
A barmaid who said "You are barred, Get out
A barmaid who said "You are barred, Get out
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Allegedly, they were barred from both. Even thought they were barred from the pub, they could still walk into it. Hmm...there were no bouncers back then?
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The following is current US usage.
These words have a similar meaning but are usually used differently.
With books it is always "banned." A book is never "barred," in any context in English.
With imports it is usually "banned."
With clubs and bars not admitting people, it would usually be "barred," but it depends on the situation. The following are examples of
These words have a similar meaning but are usually used differently.
With books it is always "banned." A book is never "barred," in any context in English.
With imports it is usually "banned."
With clubs and bars not admitting people, it would usually be "barred," but it depends on the situation. The following are examples of
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That's true. Thank you all and I apologize for the bad questions 
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As for the imports/exports I agree with you. I just came a
.As for the imports/exports I agree with you. I just came a
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