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Do British people often use the word lightning conductor?
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Contributor's Guide to English Language LearnersIs it OK to mix American and British English?American vs British pronunciation of `i`Is the collocation “rekindle a relationship” mostly BritishDo Americans use the word dodgy as a synonym of the word shadyBritish English: friend vs. mate“Mobile homes” in American and British EnglishWhat is the British term for the place where people change clothes at the gym?Do we use papers (as flat material, not as newspapers) in British English?British English influenced by American EnglishMixing up British and American English
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Do British people use the word lightning conductor more frequently than a lightning rod?
american-english british-english
asked 3 hours ago
AngyangAngyang
264
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Angyang is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
Do British people use the word lightning conductor more frequently than a lightning rod?
american-english british-english
asked 3 hours ago
AngyangAngyang
264
New contributor
Angyang is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 hours ago
Andrew Tobiko - mainly US I think, and can be used about objects such as trees, masts of boats, tall buildings, etc, that are susceptible to being struck by lightning.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
2
Angyang, your question sounds like you think that "lightning rod" is the right expression, and that British people are using a wrong or mistaken version.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
@ Michael Harvey No wonder you had that kind of feeling, as I also felt my title is a bit ambiguous when I look at it hh.
– Angyang
1 hour ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Do British people use the word lightning conductor more frequently than a lightning rod?
american-english british-english
asked 3 hours ago
AngyangAngyang
264
New contributor
Angyang is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Do British people use the word lightning conductor more frequently than a lightning rod?
american-english british-english
american-english british-english
asked 3 hours ago
AngyangAngyang
264
New contributor
Angyang is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
AngyangAngyang
264
New contributor
Angyang is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
Angyang
asked 3 hours ago
AngyangAngyang
264
New contributor
Angyang is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
AngyangAngyang
264
asked 3 hours ago
AngyangAngyang
264
264
New contributor
Angyang is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Angyang is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 hours ago
Andrew Tobiko - mainly US I think, and can be used about objects such as trees, masts of boats, tall buildings, etc, that are susceptible to being struck by lightning.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
2
Angyang, your question sounds like you think that "lightning rod" is the right expression, and that British people are using a wrong or mistaken version.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
@ Michael Harvey No wonder you had that kind of feeling, as I also felt my title is a bit ambiguous when I look at it hh.
– Angyang
1 hour ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 hours ago
Andrew Tobiko - mainly US I think, and can be used about objects such as trees, masts of boats, tall buildings, etc, that are susceptible to being struck by lightning.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
2
Angyang, your question sounds like you think that "lightning rod" is the right expression, and that British people are using a wrong or mistaken version.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
@ Michael Harvey No wonder you had that kind of feeling, as I also felt my title is a bit ambiguous when I look at it hh.
– Angyang
1 hour ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 hours ago
I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 hours ago
Andrew Tobiko - mainly US I think, and can be used about objects such as trees, masts of boats, tall buildings, etc, that are susceptible to being struck by lightning.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Andrew Tobiko - mainly US I think, and can be used about objects such as trees, masts of boats, tall buildings, etc, that are susceptible to being struck by lightning.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
2
2
Angyang, your question sounds like you think that "lightning rod" is the right expression, and that British people are using a wrong or mistaken version.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Angyang, your question sounds like you think that "lightning rod" is the right expression, and that British people are using a wrong or mistaken version.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
@ Michael Harvey No wonder you had that kind of feeling, as I also felt my title is a bit ambiguous when I look at it hh.
– Angyang
1 hour ago
@ Michael Harvey No wonder you had that kind of feeling, as I also felt my title is a bit ambiguous when I look at it hh.
– Angyang
1 hour ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
As a British person, I would say that American people often use "lightning rod" when they are talking about a lightning conductor. This is usually mounted at the highest point of a building, and connected to the ground by an electrically conductive link of copper or other metal. UK and US building and safety professionals tend to talk about "lightning protection systems", of which the rod or conductor (often called the "air termination device") is one part. In figurative language, however, the term "lightning rod" meaning "someone who attracts criticism or anger that could be directed at someone else" is pretty common in the UK.
answered 2 hours ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.4k12442
Michael, I was literally using it in a metaphorical way, like I was writing something like "Public are is indeed a lightning rod", as I want to use British English and I want to be consistent, thus I checked the word "lightning rod" and got that the British version is "lightning conductor', that's why I'm asking this here. Also as you said in your last sentence, I suppose you mean a "lightening conductor" is rather common in the UK, am I right?
– Angyang
1 hour ago
When I was a small (British) boy, my father, a professional electrical engineer with a passion for Norman churches, once told me that the thing atop a steeple, that I had noticed, was called a "lightning conductor".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
"I was literally using it in a metaphorical way" - avoid saying, or writing, things like this.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
The older "lightning rod" is the preferred metaphor in British English.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
|
show 3 more comments
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
votes
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active
oldest
votes
As a British person, I would say that American people often use "lightning rod" when they are talking about a lightning conductor. This is usually mounted at the highest point of a building, and connected to the ground by an electrically conductive link of copper or other metal. UK and US building and safety professionals tend to talk about "lightning protection systems", of which the rod or conductor (often called the "air termination device") is one part. In figurative language, however, the term "lightning rod" meaning "someone who attracts criticism or anger that could be directed at someone else" is pretty common in the UK.
answered 2 hours ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.4k12442
Michael, I was literally using it in a metaphorical way, like I was writing something like "Public are is indeed a lightning rod", as I want to use British English and I want to be consistent, thus I checked the word "lightning rod" and got that the British version is "lightning conductor', that's why I'm asking this here. Also as you said in your last sentence, I suppose you mean a "lightening conductor" is rather common in the UK, am I right?
– Angyang
1 hour ago
When I was a small (British) boy, my father, a professional electrical engineer with a passion for Norman churches, once told me that the thing atop a steeple, that I had noticed, was called a "lightning conductor".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
"I was literally using it in a metaphorical way" - avoid saying, or writing, things like this.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
The older "lightning rod" is the preferred metaphor in British English.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
|
show 3 more comments
As a British person, I would say that American people often use "lightning rod" when they are talking about a lightning conductor. This is usually mounted at the highest point of a building, and connected to the ground by an electrically conductive link of copper or other metal. UK and US building and safety professionals tend to talk about "lightning protection systems", of which the rod or conductor (often called the "air termination device") is one part. In figurative language, however, the term "lightning rod" meaning "someone who attracts criticism or anger that could be directed at someone else" is pretty common in the UK.
answered 2 hours ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.4k12442
Michael, I was literally using it in a metaphorical way, like I was writing something like "Public are is indeed a lightning rod", as I want to use British English and I want to be consistent, thus I checked the word "lightning rod" and got that the British version is "lightning conductor', that's why I'm asking this here. Also as you said in your last sentence, I suppose you mean a "lightening conductor" is rather common in the UK, am I right?
– Angyang
1 hour ago
When I was a small (British) boy, my father, a professional electrical engineer with a passion for Norman churches, once told me that the thing atop a steeple, that I had noticed, was called a "lightning conductor".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
"I was literally using it in a metaphorical way" - avoid saying, or writing, things like this.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
The older "lightning rod" is the preferred metaphor in British English.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
|
show 3 more comments
As a British person, I would say that American people often use "lightning rod" when they are talking about a lightning conductor. This is usually mounted at the highest point of a building, and connected to the ground by an electrically conductive link of copper or other metal. UK and US building and safety professionals tend to talk about "lightning protection systems", of which the rod or conductor (often called the "air termination device") is one part. In figurative language, however, the term "lightning rod" meaning "someone who attracts criticism or anger that could be directed at someone else" is pretty common in the UK.
answered 2 hours ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.4k12442
As a British person, I would say that American people often use "lightning rod" when they are talking about a lightning conductor. This is usually mounted at the highest point of a building, and connected to the ground by an electrically conductive link of copper or other metal. UK and US building and safety professionals tend to talk about "lightning protection systems", of which the rod or conductor (often called the "air termination device") is one part. In figurative language, however, the term "lightning rod" meaning "someone who attracts criticism or anger that could be directed at someone else" is pretty common in the UK.
answered 2 hours ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.4k12442
edited 1 hour ago
answered 2 hours ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.4k12442
answered 2 hours ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.4k12442
answered 2 hours ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.4k12442
19.4k12442
Michael, I was literally using it in a metaphorical way, like I was writing something like "Public are is indeed a lightning rod", as I want to use British English and I want to be consistent, thus I checked the word "lightning rod" and got that the British version is "lightning conductor', that's why I'm asking this here. Also as you said in your last sentence, I suppose you mean a "lightening conductor" is rather common in the UK, am I right?
– Angyang
1 hour ago
When I was a small (British) boy, my father, a professional electrical engineer with a passion for Norman churches, once told me that the thing atop a steeple, that I had noticed, was called a "lightning conductor".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
"I was literally using it in a metaphorical way" - avoid saying, or writing, things like this.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
The older "lightning rod" is the preferred metaphor in British English.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
|
show 3 more comments
Michael, I was literally using it in a metaphorical way, like I was writing something like "Public are is indeed a lightning rod", as I want to use British English and I want to be consistent, thus I checked the word "lightning rod" and got that the British version is "lightning conductor', that's why I'm asking this here. Also as you said in your last sentence, I suppose you mean a "lightening conductor" is rather common in the UK, am I right?
– Angyang
1 hour ago
When I was a small (British) boy, my father, a professional electrical engineer with a passion for Norman churches, once told me that the thing atop a steeple, that I had noticed, was called a "lightning conductor".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
"I was literally using it in a metaphorical way" - avoid saying, or writing, things like this.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
The older "lightning rod" is the preferred metaphor in British English.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Michael, I was literally using it in a metaphorical way, like I was writing something like "Public are is indeed a lightning rod", as I want to use British English and I want to be consistent, thus I checked the word "lightning rod" and got that the British version is "lightning conductor', that's why I'm asking this here. Also as you said in your last sentence, I suppose you mean a "lightening conductor" is rather common in the UK, am I right?
– Angyang
1 hour ago
Michael, I was literally using it in a metaphorical way, like I was writing something like "Public are is indeed a lightning rod", as I want to use British English and I want to be consistent, thus I checked the word "lightning rod" and got that the British version is "lightning conductor', that's why I'm asking this here. Also as you said in your last sentence, I suppose you mean a "lightening conductor" is rather common in the UK, am I right?
– Angyang
1 hour ago
When I was a small (British) boy, my father, a professional electrical engineer with a passion for Norman churches, once told me that the thing atop a steeple, that I had noticed, was called a "lightning conductor".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
When I was a small (British) boy, my father, a professional electrical engineer with a passion for Norman churches, once told me that the thing atop a steeple, that I had noticed, was called a "lightning conductor".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
"I was literally using it in a metaphorical way" - avoid saying, or writing, things like this.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
"I was literally using it in a metaphorical way" - avoid saying, or writing, things like this.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
The older "lightning rod" is the preferred metaphor in British English.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
The older "lightning rod" is the preferred metaphor in British English.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
|
show 3 more comments
Angyang is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Angyang is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Angyang is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Angyang is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 hours ago
Andrew Tobiko - mainly US I think, and can be used about objects such as trees, masts of boats, tall buildings, etc, that are susceptible to being struck by lightning.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
2
Angyang, your question sounds like you think that "lightning rod" is the right expression, and that British people are using a wrong or mistaken version.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
@ Michael Harvey No wonder you had that kind of feeling, as I also felt my title is a bit ambiguous when I look at it hh.
– Angyang
1 hour ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago