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Angliholic Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Heat transfers/spreads from the walls

At night, as heat transfers from the walls, the house warms up, so that everyone can sleep comfortably.

Hi,
Is "transfers" in the above interchangeable with "spreads?" Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi Angliholic I'm not sure that 'spreads' is quite right. I think the idea is more that the heat leaves the walls and moves into the house.

— Yankee

  • Hi Angliholic I'm not sure that 'spreads' is quite right.
  • I think the idea is more that the heat leaves the walls and moves into the house.
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4 Answers
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Hi Angliholic

I'm not sure that 'spreads' is quite right. I think the idea is more that the heat leaves the walls and moves into the house.
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A physicist would explain the difference.

"Moves from and then permeates" would be a bit closer.
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No, spread and transfer is not interchangeable because, in your sentence, it is implied that heat is being transported from the wall into the air, so "transfer" is a better word to describe that transportation, whereas "spread" does not necessarily mean transportation from wall to air.

Chris
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Hi,
An additional comment on how I see these words in general terms.

transfer = from one place to another

spread = from one place to be distributed over a larger place, ie "the 'to' place is bigger than the 'from' place".

Best wishes, Clive
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