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Infinik Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Me atop you... how touching is that?

Hi there,

Here's the situation: I want to find out if there is a word (or a way) to mean that two things are relatively positioned vertically and are "immediately contacting" (i.e., no other in-betweens), in any circumstances (or perhaps under some circumtances?). For example:

The cap is atop the cup.

The cap is on the cup.

The cap is on top of the cup.

The cap is over the cup.

Does any of these sentences imply that the cap and the cup are immediately contacting? And if somehow there's additional information that there's a sheet of something inserted between the cap and the cup, would that change anything? Plus, do we need to consider the nature of the subjects being talked about?

Thanks in advance for any comments,

i
  

Top answer

The cap is on the cup suggests that the cap is fitted to the cup. The cap is over the cup means that the cap is higher than the cup with no suggestion that is fitted to it. The cap is on top of the cup means exactly as it states.

— Dave Phillips

  • The cap is on the cup suggests that the cap is fitted to the cup.
  • The cap is over the cup means that the cap is higher than the cup with no suggestion that is fitted to it.
  • The cap is on top of the cup means exactly as it states.
  • Although the cap and cup are touching the cap could be rested on the cup rather than fitted - we don't know.
  • The cap is atop the cup - This makes no sense!
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5 Answers
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The cap is on the cup suggests that the cap is fitted to the cup.

The cap is over the cup means that the cap is higher than the cup with no suggestion that is fitted to it.

The cap is on top of the cup means exactly as it states. Although the cap and cup are touching the cap could be rested on the cup rather than fitted - we don't know.

The cap is atop the cup - This m
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or the articles were different - sorry typo.
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Hi Dave, could you explain why the sentence with "atop" make no sense? Is it because a cap can't be atop the cup?

Also, if I generalize a bit:

Layer A is on layer B.

Layer A is over layer B.

Layer A is on top of layer B.

Layer A is atop layer B.

Do these now follow the same interpretation as you did there?

Thanks.
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Atop made no sense to me and after looking the word up find it to be American (I wasn't expecting to find it at all). It sounds wrong to my British ear so maybe some of our friends from the States could help you with that sentence.

Layer A is on layer B. - Layer A is resting on Layer B

Layer A is over layer B. - Layer A covers layer B

Layer A is on top of layer B. - La
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Layer A is atop layer B.
I would say this makes sense... and to me 'atop' means the exact same thing as 'on top.'
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