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K48 Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

Buildings: high or tall

0 We were taught that we say "high" about buildings and "tall" ONLY about people. 02br
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00But here: 02br
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00I read "the tallest building in the world". Is this usage correct? If not you may edit that page and replace "tallest" by "highest"... 0240hrefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower
  

Top answer

0 "Tall" sounds more appropriate than "high" to me in that context. I generally use "tall" to describe the height of an object (whatever that object may be), and "high" to describe its location. For instance...

— YoungCalifornian

  • 0 "Tall" sounds more appropriate than "high" to me in that context.
  • I generally use "tall" to describe the height of an object (whatever that object may be), and "high" to describe its location.
  • For instance...
  • 02br 02br 00His office was on the HIGHEST floor of a TALL skyscraper.
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8 Answers
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0 "Tall" sounds more appropriate than "high" to me in that context. I generally use "tall" to describe the height of an object (whatever that object may be), and "high" to describe its location. For instance... 02br
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00His office was on the HIGHEST floor of a TALL skyscraper. 0-
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0 I agree with YoungCalifornian on this. I'm afraid, K48, that the rule you were taught is not the way the words are commonly used. Sorry! (If I heard something about "the highest building in the world," I would expect it to be on top of Mt. Everest.) 0-
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0 haha LOL, i've just asked my teacher this question and she said "tall" is just American English. Will point out her mistake at the next period... 02br
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00It's me, K48, I didn't log in because now I'm at the University and don't rememer my password 0-
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0 And what about this? 02br
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00The building is 100 meters tall (or high). 0-
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0Be careful how you use the word "just". Some might take offense! 050010id1
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0 Hi, K48, 02br
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00the rules we are taught at the university are often fail to be true05000 , really. The living language changes so quickly that it's hardly possible to conclude appropriate rules - they get outdated as soon as you come to them05100 That's the conclusion I came to when I started my translating carreer immediately on graduation from the univ
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0 Okay, I've changed my signature line to disclaim any knowledge of British English. You really have high buildings over there??? 0-
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0 Hi, 02br
00And what about "short/tall" and "short/long"? Talking about 2 pencils, for example, one is shorter and the other is taller? I think so, just wanna make sure. I know about the differnt usage, for example, "a short/long book" and "a short/tall book". 02br
00I have the same kind of confusion about "big and small" and "big and little". 02br
00Thanks i
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