“above” vs. “over” vs. “in” the lake
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
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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
meaning word-choice
add a comment |
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
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
meaning word-choice
asked Dec 30 '15 at 16:10
LadinigLadinig
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In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.
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
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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.
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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active
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active
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In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.
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
add a comment |
In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.
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
add a comment |
In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.
In Texas (many lakes) we would say "on the lake" ...as it carries you.
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
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.
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.
answered 23 hours ago
ScottScott
6,62082850
6,62082850
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add a comment |
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).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?