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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread 'stair/s' and step/s' #198092 03/07/2011 10:28 AM Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 3 Lonny stranger Lonny stranger Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 3 I am puzzled as to why it is we use the word 'stair/s' for inside a building and 'step/s' for outside a building. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' Lonny #198093 03/07/2011 11:28 AM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Thank you, I never knew that there ìs a difference. Welcome. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' BranShea #198095 03/07/2011 12:05 PM Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 down under Candy Pooh-Bah Candy Pooh-Bah Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 down under I've never had that pointed out to me..but of course, you are right. I think of steps as being 'small number' of steps but then there are steps to a cathedral that can be 20 or more. Stairs are usually a 'bigger number'. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' Candy #198106 03/07/2011 2:57 PM Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 677 Middle Earth bexter addict bexter addict Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 677 Middle Earth Stairs also tend to have a banister or hand rail whereas steps are free standing without these...steps occur outside buildings or leading up to them... ----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' bexter #198107 03/07/2011 3:16 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass here, new construction of outside 'steps' must now have a railing, by city ordinance. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' tsuwm #198112 03/07/2011 4:11 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water WELCOME, LONNY Interesting distinction you make, I wonder how universal it is. Last edited by LukeJavan8; 03/07/2011 4:12 PM. ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' Lonny #198116 03/07/2011 4:21 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water Originally Posted By: Lonny I am puzzled as to why it is we use the word 'stair/s' for inside a building and 'step/s' for outside a building. A news commentator reporting on government demonstrations in the capital city of some state, probably Wisconsin, this morning, said "on the stairs of the capital". She was outside. So...... ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' LukeJavan8 #198119 03/07/2011 6:59 PM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Originally Posted By: LukeJavan8 WELCOME, LONNY I wonder how universal it is. Anyway, it's stairway to heaven, (very much outside everything) not steps. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' BranShea #198127 03/07/2011 10:28 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water And there was the movie "Up the Down Staircase". ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' BranShea #198185 03/10/2011 11:26 AM Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 down under Candy Pooh-Bah Candy Pooh-Bah Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 down under Originally Posted By: BranShea Anyway, it's stairway to heaven, (very much outside everything) not steps. I love that song. I once started a collection, trying to find it by as as many artist as I could...I wonder what happened to it I was talking to a pilot friend and happen to think about this step/stair Q, so I asked what were the steps called that get people into the plane. Its an AIRSTAIR. It may be fixed to an aircraft and lowered or raised to allow passengers to board or disembark from an aircraft, though most larger airlines use a mobile staircase or walkway. A safety device called a Cooper Vain was fitted to prevent the airstair be used while a plane is flying after a hijacker used this as escape route in 1971. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: 'stair/s' and step/s' Candy #198201 03/10/2011 4:17 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water Most places I have landed have the long tube you walk through to get to the terminal. In Israel, however, security conscious, the air stair was in use universally. ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. 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