Tall/high

Question

Are both of (A) and (B) in the following sentence right?This fence is three meters [ (A) high / (B) tall ].

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

lucas21cAre both of (A) and (B) in the following sentence right?

Strictly, yes, but 'tall' is more usually confined to people, buildings and trees, while fences are high.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

This fence is three meters high.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tall

high vs. tall
1. 'high'
You use high to describe things which measure a larger distance than usual from the bottom to the top.
For example, you talk about a high hill or a high fence.
...the high mountains of northern Japan.
...the high walls of the prison.

2. 'tall'
- You use tall to describe things which are higher than usual, but which are also much higher than they are wide. So, for example, you talk about a tall tree or a tall chimney.
Insects buzzed in the tall grass.
We saw several birds, including a tall heron standing on one leg.

- You always use tall when you are talking about people.
Andreas was a tall handsome man.
She was a young woman, fairly tall and slim.

3. another meaning of 'high'
High also means 'a long way above the ground'. For example, you talk about a high window or a high shelf.
It was a large room with a high ceiling.

Tall/high

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