“above” vs. “over” vs. “in” the lake












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I'm writing a fantasy short story taking place on a platform that was built in a lake, but is tall enough to be above the surface. Since it's a short story, I don't really want to spend much time explaining it, but there's a decent chance I'll use that location again in future works, so I'd still like to give my readers a good idea of what it looks like. What would be a good way to do that in a single sentence?



As the title indicates, I've found three possibilities, but I'm not sure which would be best:




  • "in the lake" - sounds like it's submerged, but could be what I'm looking for all the same

  • "above the lake" - sounds like it was built on the shore, sort of like "overlooking the lake"(?), "looking over the lake"

  • "over the lake" - sounds like it's floating over it


Any other ideas are welcome as well (as long as they are concise, of course), but I'd really like to just focus on those three, if possible










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    2















    I'm writing a fantasy short story taking place on a platform that was built in a lake, but is tall enough to be above the surface. Since it's a short story, I don't really want to spend much time explaining it, but there's a decent chance I'll use that location again in future works, so I'd still like to give my readers a good idea of what it looks like. What would be a good way to do that in a single sentence?



    As the title indicates, I've found three possibilities, but I'm not sure which would be best:




    • "in the lake" - sounds like it's submerged, but could be what I'm looking for all the same

    • "above the lake" - sounds like it was built on the shore, sort of like "overlooking the lake"(?), "looking over the lake"

    • "over the lake" - sounds like it's floating over it


    Any other ideas are welcome as well (as long as they are concise, of course), but I'd really like to just focus on those three, if possible










    share|improve this question

























      2












      2








      2








      I'm writing a fantasy short story taking place on a platform that was built in a lake, but is tall enough to be above the surface. Since it's a short story, I don't really want to spend much time explaining it, but there's a decent chance I'll use that location again in future works, so I'd still like to give my readers a good idea of what it looks like. What would be a good way to do that in a single sentence?



      As the title indicates, I've found three possibilities, but I'm not sure which would be best:




      • "in the lake" - sounds like it's submerged, but could be what I'm looking for all the same

      • "above the lake" - sounds like it was built on the shore, sort of like "overlooking the lake"(?), "looking over the lake"

      • "over the lake" - sounds like it's floating over it


      Any other ideas are welcome as well (as long as they are concise, of course), but I'd really like to just focus on those three, if possible










      share|improve this question














      I'm writing a fantasy short story taking place on a platform that was built in a lake, but is tall enough to be above the surface. Since it's a short story, I don't really want to spend much time explaining it, but there's a decent chance I'll use that location again in future works, so I'd still like to give my readers a good idea of what it looks like. What would be a good way to do that in a single sentence?



      As the title indicates, I've found three possibilities, but I'm not sure which would be best:




      • "in the lake" - sounds like it's submerged, but could be what I'm looking for all the same

      • "above the lake" - sounds like it was built on the shore, sort of like "overlooking the lake"(?), "looking over the lake"

      • "over the lake" - sounds like it's floating over it


      Any other ideas are welcome as well (as long as they are concise, of course), but I'd really like to just focus on those three, if possible







      meaning word-choice






      share|improve this question













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      asked Dec 30 '15 at 16:10









      LadinigLadinig

      111




      111






















          2 Answers
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          In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.






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          • While "on the lake" is definitely what I would use normally, I'm not sure it implies structure that starts below the water, with only part emerging above the surface.

            – AlannaRose
            Dec 30 '15 at 22:42





















          0















          It extends above the lake surface.




          The word extend suggests that the platform thing
          starts at or below the surface, but reaches a high point above the surface.




          Collins English Dictionary:



            If an object extends from a surface or place, it sticks out from it.
            A shelf of land extended from the escarpment.

          ODO:



            1.4  [no object] Spread from a central point to cover a wider area.
              • ‘the pipeline currently extends 1,200 miles from Santa Barbara’

            1.5  [no object] Occupy a specified area
            or stretch to a specified point.


              • ‘the mountains extend over the western end of the island’

              • ‘a fault that may extend to a depth of 12 miles’



          American Heritage Dictionary:



            To be or become long, large, or comprehensive:  
            Influence that extended to other continents;
            table legs that extend by unscrewing.






          share|improve this answer






















            protected by tchrist 23 hours ago



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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

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            active

            oldest

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            2














            In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.






            share|improve this answer
























            • While "on the lake" is definitely what I would use normally, I'm not sure it implies structure that starts below the water, with only part emerging above the surface.

              – AlannaRose
              Dec 30 '15 at 22:42


















            2














            In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.






            share|improve this answer
























            • While "on the lake" is definitely what I would use normally, I'm not sure it implies structure that starts below the water, with only part emerging above the surface.

              – AlannaRose
              Dec 30 '15 at 22:42
















            2












            2








            2







            In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.






            share|improve this answer













            In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Dec 30 '15 at 16:14









            user153274user153274

            211




            211













            • While "on the lake" is definitely what I would use normally, I'm not sure it implies structure that starts below the water, with only part emerging above the surface.

              – AlannaRose
              Dec 30 '15 at 22:42





















            • While "on the lake" is definitely what I would use normally, I'm not sure it implies structure that starts below the water, with only part emerging above the surface.

              – AlannaRose
              Dec 30 '15 at 22:42



















            While "on the lake" is definitely what I would use normally, I'm not sure it implies structure that starts below the water, with only part emerging above the surface.

            – AlannaRose
            Dec 30 '15 at 22:42







            While "on the lake" is definitely what I would use normally, I'm not sure it implies structure that starts below the water, with only part emerging above the surface.

            – AlannaRose
            Dec 30 '15 at 22:42















            0















            It extends above the lake surface.




            The word extend suggests that the platform thing
            starts at or below the surface, but reaches a high point above the surface.




            Collins English Dictionary:



              If an object extends from a surface or place, it sticks out from it.
              A shelf of land extended from the escarpment.

            ODO:



              1.4  [no object] Spread from a central point to cover a wider area.
                • ‘the pipeline currently extends 1,200 miles from Santa Barbara’

              1.5  [no object] Occupy a specified area
              or stretch to a specified point.


                • ‘the mountains extend over the western end of the island’

                • ‘a fault that may extend to a depth of 12 miles’



            American Heritage Dictionary:



              To be or become long, large, or comprehensive:  
              Influence that extended to other continents;
              table legs that extend by unscrewing.






            share|improve this answer




























              0















              It extends above the lake surface.




              The word extend suggests that the platform thing
              starts at or below the surface, but reaches a high point above the surface.




              Collins English Dictionary:



                If an object extends from a surface or place, it sticks out from it.
                A shelf of land extended from the escarpment.

              ODO:



                1.4  [no object] Spread from a central point to cover a wider area.
                  • ‘the pipeline currently extends 1,200 miles from Santa Barbara’

                1.5  [no object] Occupy a specified area
                or stretch to a specified point.


                  • ‘the mountains extend over the western end of the island’

                  • ‘a fault that may extend to a depth of 12 miles’



              American Heritage Dictionary:



                To be or become long, large, or comprehensive:  
                Influence that extended to other continents;
                table legs that extend by unscrewing.






              share|improve this answer


























                0












                0








                0








                It extends above the lake surface.




                The word extend suggests that the platform thing
                starts at or below the surface, but reaches a high point above the surface.




                Collins English Dictionary:



                  If an object extends from a surface or place, it sticks out from it.
                  A shelf of land extended from the escarpment.

                ODO:



                  1.4  [no object] Spread from a central point to cover a wider area.
                    • ‘the pipeline currently extends 1,200 miles from Santa Barbara’

                  1.5  [no object] Occupy a specified area
                  or stretch to a specified point.


                    • ‘the mountains extend over the western end of the island’

                    • ‘a fault that may extend to a depth of 12 miles’



                American Heritage Dictionary:



                  To be or become long, large, or comprehensive:  
                  Influence that extended to other continents;
                  table legs that extend by unscrewing.






                share|improve this answer














                It extends above the lake surface.




                The word extend suggests that the platform thing
                starts at or below the surface, but reaches a high point above the surface.




                Collins English Dictionary:



                  If an object extends from a surface or place, it sticks out from it.
                  A shelf of land extended from the escarpment.

                ODO:



                  1.4  [no object] Spread from a central point to cover a wider area.
                    • ‘the pipeline currently extends 1,200 miles from Santa Barbara’

                  1.5  [no object] Occupy a specified area
                  or stretch to a specified point.


                    • ‘the mountains extend over the western end of the island’

                    • ‘a fault that may extend to a depth of 12 miles’



                American Heritage Dictionary:



                  To be or become long, large, or comprehensive:  
                  Influence that extended to other continents;
                  table legs that extend by unscrewing.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 23 hours ago









                ScottScott

                6,62082850




                6,62082850

















                    protected by tchrist 23 hours ago



                    Thank you for your interest in this question.
                    Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).



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