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Is there any difference between to strew and to scatter?
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)Is there a difference between “arse” and “ass”?Difference between “question” and “query”Is there any difference between “post” and “position”?What is the difference between disseminate and distributeIs there a difference between a “way” and a “means”?Difference between “needed” and “necessary”Difference between elucidate and explicateThe difference between “discomfit” and “discomfort.”What's the difference between “incoherence” and “inconsistency”?Difference between “expertise” and “mastery”?
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I just read that :
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/strew-scatter.172228/
and it appears those two words are interchangeable, apart that strew is rather literate.
What do you think?
differences synonyms
asked 5 hours ago
Marine GalantinMarine Galantin
1285
add a comment |
I just read that :
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/strew-scatter.172228/
and it appears those two words are interchangeable, apart that strew is rather literate.
What do you think?
differences synonyms
asked 5 hours ago
Marine GalantinMarine Galantin
1285
"Strew" implies "slinging" the stuff as it is being scattered.
– Hot Licks
5 hours ago
1
Strewn connotes more of a mess than scattered.
– Paul
4 hours ago
add a comment |
I just read that :
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/strew-scatter.172228/
and it appears those two words are interchangeable, apart that strew is rather literate.
What do you think?
differences synonyms
asked 5 hours ago
Marine GalantinMarine Galantin
1285
I just read that :
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/strew-scatter.172228/
and it appears those two words are interchangeable, apart that strew is rather literate.
What do you think?
differences synonyms
differences synonyms
asked 5 hours ago
Marine GalantinMarine Galantin
1285
asked 5 hours ago
Marine GalantinMarine Galantin
1285
asked 5 hours ago
Marine GalantinMarine Galantin
1285
asked 5 hours ago
Marine GalantinMarine Galantin
1285
asked 5 hours ago
Marine GalantinMarine Galantin
1285
1285
"Strew" implies "slinging" the stuff as it is being scattered.
– Hot Licks
5 hours ago
1
Strewn connotes more of a mess than scattered.
– Paul
4 hours ago
add a comment |
"Strew" implies "slinging" the stuff as it is being scattered.
– Hot Licks
5 hours ago
1
Strewn connotes more of a mess than scattered.
– Paul
4 hours ago
"Strew" implies "slinging" the stuff as it is being scattered.
– Hot Licks
5 hours ago
"Strew" implies "slinging" the stuff as it is being scattered.
– Hot Licks
5 hours ago
1
1
Strewn connotes more of a mess than scattered.
– Paul
4 hours ago
Strewn connotes more of a mess than scattered.
– Paul
4 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
While in many cases you can use either word, there are some quirks in usage. According to a Corpus of Contemporary American English search:
Scatter is more common than strew. (7796 hits versus 126 hits.)- One is more likely to strew flowers or to strew something along a path or a way
- One is more likely to scatter ashes, light, or the pronoun them.
The Oxford English Dictionary confirms the associations between strew and plant material as well as surfaces:
a. transitive. To scatter, spread loosely; to scatter (rushes, straw, flowers, etc.) on the ground or floor, or over the surface of something; to sprinkle (something granulated or in powder) over a surface.
Note the use of scatter to define the term. The relevant meaning of scatter is very similar:
a. To throw or send forth so that the particles are distributed or spread about; to sow or throw (seed, money, etc.) broadcast; to sprinkle, strew; to diffuse (fragrance).
The difference in this subset of meanings is slight and isn't even about the method of delivery. It's more about the materials involved and the associations with them. Grammatically I wouldn't blink at scattering flowers or strewing ashes, but on a good day I might notice that the verb doesn't fit expected usage.
A final note: scatter can be used as an intransitive verb, referring to an action that the subject does to itself. Merriam-Webster on scatter, intransitive:
: to separate and go in various directions : disperse
When the weights hit the ground, the marbles scattered.
Strew has no such intransitive use. "The marbles strew" does not make sense.
answered 5 hours ago
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
7,5981430
1
And of course with human objects, there is a very important difference in meaning: if the troops were scattered on the field, they are running from the enemy – but if they’re strewn on the field, they’re already dead. This ties in with the fact that scatter is also intransitive, since scatter here is really a causative meaning ‘cause to scatter or spread out [agentively]’, which is not possible with strew, which has only a patientive meaning.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
5 hours ago
hi ! what's the meaning of "the troops were scattered on the field"? i don't understand that sentence. I would rather say it means the troops are dispersed.
– Marine Galantin
5 hours ago
@MarineGalantin - dispersed implies intent to distribute. scattered just implies randomness.
– Jim
4 hours ago
But why would they retreat? Randomess has nothing to do with defeat
– Marine Galantin
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
While in many cases you can use either word, there are some quirks in usage. According to a Corpus of Contemporary American English search:
Scatter is more common than strew. (7796 hits versus 126 hits.)- One is more likely to strew flowers or to strew something along a path or a way
- One is more likely to scatter ashes, light, or the pronoun them.
The Oxford English Dictionary confirms the associations between strew and plant material as well as surfaces:
a. transitive. To scatter, spread loosely; to scatter (rushes, straw, flowers, etc.) on the ground or floor, or over the surface of something; to sprinkle (something granulated or in powder) over a surface.
Note the use of scatter to define the term. The relevant meaning of scatter is very similar:
a. To throw or send forth so that the particles are distributed or spread about; to sow or throw (seed, money, etc.) broadcast; to sprinkle, strew; to diffuse (fragrance).
The difference in this subset of meanings is slight and isn't even about the method of delivery. It's more about the materials involved and the associations with them. Grammatically I wouldn't blink at scattering flowers or strewing ashes, but on a good day I might notice that the verb doesn't fit expected usage.
A final note: scatter can be used as an intransitive verb, referring to an action that the subject does to itself. Merriam-Webster on scatter, intransitive:
: to separate and go in various directions : disperse
When the weights hit the ground, the marbles scattered.
Strew has no such intransitive use. "The marbles strew" does not make sense.
answered 5 hours ago
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
7,5981430
1
And of course with human objects, there is a very important difference in meaning: if the troops were scattered on the field, they are running from the enemy – but if they’re strewn on the field, they’re already dead. This ties in with the fact that scatter is also intransitive, since scatter here is really a causative meaning ‘cause to scatter or spread out [agentively]’, which is not possible with strew, which has only a patientive meaning.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
5 hours ago
hi ! what's the meaning of "the troops were scattered on the field"? i don't understand that sentence. I would rather say it means the troops are dispersed.
– Marine Galantin
5 hours ago
@MarineGalantin - dispersed implies intent to distribute. scattered just implies randomness.
– Jim
4 hours ago
But why would they retreat? Randomess has nothing to do with defeat
– Marine Galantin
4 hours ago
add a comment |
While in many cases you can use either word, there are some quirks in usage. According to a Corpus of Contemporary American English search:
Scatter is more common than strew. (7796 hits versus 126 hits.)- One is more likely to strew flowers or to strew something along a path or a way
- One is more likely to scatter ashes, light, or the pronoun them.
The Oxford English Dictionary confirms the associations between strew and plant material as well as surfaces:
a. transitive. To scatter, spread loosely; to scatter (rushes, straw, flowers, etc.) on the ground or floor, or over the surface of something; to sprinkle (something granulated or in powder) over a surface.
Note the use of scatter to define the term. The relevant meaning of scatter is very similar:
a. To throw or send forth so that the particles are distributed or spread about; to sow or throw (seed, money, etc.) broadcast; to sprinkle, strew; to diffuse (fragrance).
The difference in this subset of meanings is slight and isn't even about the method of delivery. It's more about the materials involved and the associations with them. Grammatically I wouldn't blink at scattering flowers or strewing ashes, but on a good day I might notice that the verb doesn't fit expected usage.
A final note: scatter can be used as an intransitive verb, referring to an action that the subject does to itself. Merriam-Webster on scatter, intransitive:
: to separate and go in various directions : disperse
When the weights hit the ground, the marbles scattered.
Strew has no such intransitive use. "The marbles strew" does not make sense.
answered 5 hours ago
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
7,5981430
1
And of course with human objects, there is a very important difference in meaning: if the troops were scattered on the field, they are running from the enemy – but if they’re strewn on the field, they’re already dead. This ties in with the fact that scatter is also intransitive, since scatter here is really a causative meaning ‘cause to scatter or spread out [agentively]’, which is not possible with strew, which has only a patientive meaning.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
5 hours ago
hi ! what's the meaning of "the troops were scattered on the field"? i don't understand that sentence. I would rather say it means the troops are dispersed.
– Marine Galantin
5 hours ago
@MarineGalantin - dispersed implies intent to distribute. scattered just implies randomness.
– Jim
4 hours ago
But why would they retreat? Randomess has nothing to do with defeat
– Marine Galantin
4 hours ago
add a comment |
While in many cases you can use either word, there are some quirks in usage. According to a Corpus of Contemporary American English search:
Scatter is more common than strew. (7796 hits versus 126 hits.)- One is more likely to strew flowers or to strew something along a path or a way
- One is more likely to scatter ashes, light, or the pronoun them.
The Oxford English Dictionary confirms the associations between strew and plant material as well as surfaces:
a. transitive. To scatter, spread loosely; to scatter (rushes, straw, flowers, etc.) on the ground or floor, or over the surface of something; to sprinkle (something granulated or in powder) over a surface.
Note the use of scatter to define the term. The relevant meaning of scatter is very similar:
a. To throw or send forth so that the particles are distributed or spread about; to sow or throw (seed, money, etc.) broadcast; to sprinkle, strew; to diffuse (fragrance).
The difference in this subset of meanings is slight and isn't even about the method of delivery. It's more about the materials involved and the associations with them. Grammatically I wouldn't blink at scattering flowers or strewing ashes, but on a good day I might notice that the verb doesn't fit expected usage.
A final note: scatter can be used as an intransitive verb, referring to an action that the subject does to itself. Merriam-Webster on scatter, intransitive:
: to separate and go in various directions : disperse
When the weights hit the ground, the marbles scattered.
Strew has no such intransitive use. "The marbles strew" does not make sense.
answered 5 hours ago
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
7,5981430
While in many cases you can use either word, there are some quirks in usage. According to a Corpus of Contemporary American English search:
Scatter is more common than strew. (7796 hits versus 126 hits.)- One is more likely to strew flowers or to strew something along a path or a way
- One is more likely to scatter ashes, light, or the pronoun them.
The Oxford English Dictionary confirms the associations between strew and plant material as well as surfaces:
a. transitive. To scatter, spread loosely; to scatter (rushes, straw, flowers, etc.) on the ground or floor, or over the surface of something; to sprinkle (something granulated or in powder) over a surface.
Note the use of scatter to define the term. The relevant meaning of scatter is very similar:
a. To throw or send forth so that the particles are distributed or spread about; to sow or throw (seed, money, etc.) broadcast; to sprinkle, strew; to diffuse (fragrance).
The difference in this subset of meanings is slight and isn't even about the method of delivery. It's more about the materials involved and the associations with them. Grammatically I wouldn't blink at scattering flowers or strewing ashes, but on a good day I might notice that the verb doesn't fit expected usage.
A final note: scatter can be used as an intransitive verb, referring to an action that the subject does to itself. Merriam-Webster on scatter, intransitive:
: to separate and go in various directions : disperse
When the weights hit the ground, the marbles scattered.
Strew has no such intransitive use. "The marbles strew" does not make sense.
answered 5 hours ago
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
7,5981430
answered 5 hours ago
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
7,5981430
answered 5 hours ago
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
7,5981430
answered 5 hours ago
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
7,5981430
7,5981430
1
And of course with human objects, there is a very important difference in meaning: if the troops were scattered on the field, they are running from the enemy – but if they’re strewn on the field, they’re already dead. This ties in with the fact that scatter is also intransitive, since scatter here is really a causative meaning ‘cause to scatter or spread out [agentively]’, which is not possible with strew, which has only a patientive meaning.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
5 hours ago
hi ! what's the meaning of "the troops were scattered on the field"? i don't understand that sentence. I would rather say it means the troops are dispersed.
– Marine Galantin
5 hours ago
@MarineGalantin - dispersed implies intent to distribute. scattered just implies randomness.
– Jim
4 hours ago
But why would they retreat? Randomess has nothing to do with defeat
– Marine Galantin
4 hours ago
add a comment |
1
And of course with human objects, there is a very important difference in meaning: if the troops were scattered on the field, they are running from the enemy – but if they’re strewn on the field, they’re already dead. This ties in with the fact that scatter is also intransitive, since scatter here is really a causative meaning ‘cause to scatter or spread out [agentively]’, which is not possible with strew, which has only a patientive meaning.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
5 hours ago
hi ! what's the meaning of "the troops were scattered on the field"? i don't understand that sentence. I would rather say it means the troops are dispersed.
– Marine Galantin
5 hours ago
@MarineGalantin - dispersed implies intent to distribute. scattered just implies randomness.
– Jim
4 hours ago
But why would they retreat? Randomess has nothing to do with defeat
– Marine Galantin
4 hours ago
1
1
And of course with human objects, there is a very important difference in meaning: if the troops were scattered on the field, they are running from the enemy – but if they’re strewn on the field, they’re already dead. This ties in with the fact that scatter is also intransitive, since scatter here is really a causative meaning ‘cause to scatter or spread out [agentively]’, which is not possible with strew, which has only a patientive meaning.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
5 hours ago
And of course with human objects, there is a very important difference in meaning: if the troops were scattered on the field, they are running from the enemy – but if they’re strewn on the field, they’re already dead. This ties in with the fact that scatter is also intransitive, since scatter here is really a causative meaning ‘cause to scatter or spread out [agentively]’, which is not possible with strew, which has only a patientive meaning.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
5 hours ago
hi ! what's the meaning of "the troops were scattered on the field"? i don't understand that sentence. I would rather say it means the troops are dispersed.
– Marine Galantin
5 hours ago
hi ! what's the meaning of "the troops were scattered on the field"? i don't understand that sentence. I would rather say it means the troops are dispersed.
– Marine Galantin
5 hours ago
@MarineGalantin - dispersed implies intent to distribute. scattered just implies randomness.
– Jim
4 hours ago
@MarineGalantin - dispersed implies intent to distribute. scattered just implies randomness.
– Jim
4 hours ago
But why would they retreat? Randomess has nothing to do with defeat
– Marine Galantin
4 hours ago
But why would they retreat? Randomess has nothing to do with defeat
– Marine Galantin
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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"Strew" implies "slinging" the stuff as it is being scattered.
– Hot Licks
5 hours ago
1
Strewn connotes more of a mess than scattered.
– Paul
4 hours ago