Floor or ground?

Question

I am wondering about the correct usage of the words floor and ground. My husband loves to correct me and he pushed me a little to hard on this one. I often tell my two year old son not to throw things on the ground. My husband has an issue with this because in his opinion the ground means outside (soil, sand and earth). He says I should use the word floor while I am inside a structure. Does it really matter? What about the terms grounded and ground floor, do they have to be used outside?

Feeling Picked At.

Hitchhiker · Accepted Answer

I'd go with your hubby on this: Ground "feels" outdoors (sorry

)

Ground floor is normally inside though! – Grounded, these days, commonly refers to an emotional state; but also still refers to something connected to the physical ground.

John C. · Answer

I'm with hubby too, although only technically (using "ground" in that way wouldn't catch my attention normally).

I think the "ground" floor is the floor thats resting on the (earth) ground!

Mind you, it could be just the blokes sticking together.

I admit I have trouble remembering to say ceiling instead of "roof".

Cheers

John.

Suzi · Answer

I'd tell him to get a life!  Although I probably agree with him about the general usage of these words  I really hate ppl who get picky with other ppl about how they talk!  What is he, a power freak?

Sohj · Answer

I'd also agree with your husband.

And, I think that it is really important with children to be precise in use of words. First of all, they know what they are taught and sloppy language use, I think, leads to sloppy thinking. Secondly, as someone who remembers vividly what it was like to be a child and who did a lot of babysitting when in her early teens with so-called 'problem children' (who were just usually smarter than their parents), I think many small children are very literally minded and if one doesn't use the more precise term around them, they WILL pick up on that and use it to their advantage.

For example, your son might (once he learns the difference) continue to throw stuff on the floor, and when you reprimand him, he'll say, "But I didn't throw it on the ground...I'd have to open the window and throw it outside to do that!"

Ummm....you probably don't want that to happen. Discipline would be easier if there were no faults of precision to pick on on your side.

Floor or ground?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions