What is the difference between “turn off” and “switch off”?
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Are these words interchangeable or it has some restrictions? I mean are these both correct:
“Turn off the light.”
“Switch off the light.”
differences
asked Nov 20 at 16:33
Bilal
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Are these words interchangeable or it has some restrictions? I mean are these both correct:
“Turn off the light.”
“Switch off the light.”
differences
asked Nov 20 at 16:33
Bilal
1
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Bilal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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They are interchangeable. "Turn off the light" is a tad more common, however.
– Robusto
Nov 20 at 16:40
2
Possible duplicate of Open/switch on the air-conditioner when we are home Also Turn on vs Switch on, and “Turn out the light” vs “Turn off the light” and probably others.
– FumbleFingers
Nov 20 at 16:48
In the narrow sense that you're asking about here they're equivalent. But you don't switch off the highway, for example.
– Jim Mack
Nov 20 at 17:11
Telling your girlfriend "That dress is a big switch off" would most likely confuse her.
– Hot Licks
Nov 20 at 17:31
You can also end or deactivate things with a shut off, close off, cut off, toggle off, and indeed kill off, among others.
– choster
Nov 20 at 18:12
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
Are these words interchangeable or it has some restrictions? I mean are these both correct:
“Turn off the light.”
“Switch off the light.”
differences
asked Nov 20 at 16:33
Bilal
1
New contributor
Bilal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Are these words interchangeable or it has some restrictions? I mean are these both correct:
“Turn off the light.”
“Switch off the light.”
differences
differences
asked Nov 20 at 16:33
Bilal
1
New contributor
Bilal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Nov 20 at 16:33
Bilal
1
New contributor
Bilal is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked Nov 20 at 16:33
Bilal
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asked Nov 20 at 16:33
Bilal
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asked Nov 20 at 16:33
Bilal
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They are interchangeable. "Turn off the light" is a tad more common, however.
– Robusto
Nov 20 at 16:40
2
Possible duplicate of Open/switch on the air-conditioner when we are home Also Turn on vs Switch on, and “Turn out the light” vs “Turn off the light” and probably others.
– FumbleFingers
Nov 20 at 16:48
In the narrow sense that you're asking about here they're equivalent. But you don't switch off the highway, for example.
– Jim Mack
Nov 20 at 17:11
Telling your girlfriend "That dress is a big switch off" would most likely confuse her.
– Hot Licks
Nov 20 at 17:31
You can also end or deactivate things with a shut off, close off, cut off, toggle off, and indeed kill off, among others.
– choster
Nov 20 at 18:12
add a comment |
They are interchangeable. "Turn off the light" is a tad more common, however.
– Robusto
Nov 20 at 16:40
2
Possible duplicate of Open/switch on the air-conditioner when we are home Also Turn on vs Switch on, and “Turn out the light” vs “Turn off the light” and probably others.
– FumbleFingers
Nov 20 at 16:48
In the narrow sense that you're asking about here they're equivalent. But you don't switch off the highway, for example.
– Jim Mack
Nov 20 at 17:11
Telling your girlfriend "That dress is a big switch off" would most likely confuse her.
– Hot Licks
Nov 20 at 17:31
You can also end or deactivate things with a shut off, close off, cut off, toggle off, and indeed kill off, among others.
– choster
Nov 20 at 18:12
They are interchangeable. "Turn off the light" is a tad more common, however.
– Robusto
Nov 20 at 16:40
They are interchangeable. "Turn off the light" is a tad more common, however.
– Robusto
Nov 20 at 16:40
2
2
Possible duplicate of Open/switch on the air-conditioner when we are home Also Turn on vs Switch on, and “Turn out the light” vs “Turn off the light” and probably others.
– FumbleFingers
Nov 20 at 16:48
Possible duplicate of Open/switch on the air-conditioner when we are home Also Turn on vs Switch on, and “Turn out the light” vs “Turn off the light” and probably others.
– FumbleFingers
Nov 20 at 16:48
In the narrow sense that you're asking about here they're equivalent. But you don't switch off the highway, for example.
– Jim Mack
Nov 20 at 17:11
In the narrow sense that you're asking about here they're equivalent. But you don't switch off the highway, for example.
– Jim Mack
Nov 20 at 17:11
Telling your girlfriend "That dress is a big switch off" would most likely confuse her.
– Hot Licks
Nov 20 at 17:31
Telling your girlfriend "That dress is a big switch off" would most likely confuse her.
– Hot Licks
Nov 20 at 17:31
You can also end or deactivate things with a shut off, close off, cut off, toggle off, and indeed kill off, among others.
– choster
Nov 20 at 18:12
You can also end or deactivate things with a shut off, close off, cut off, toggle off, and indeed kill off, among others.
– choster
Nov 20 at 18:12
add a comment |
2 Answers
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up vote
2
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They are mostly interchangable: for instance you can switch your car off, turn your phone off and so on.
But some people would object if you said "switch off" for a water tap.
answered Nov 20 at 16:47
neptun
1964
New contributor
neptun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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I would. Even if you called it a "faucet". To the OP: we switch electric things on and off, but we can turn off water, gas, etc.
– Michael Harvey
Nov 20 at 17:03
@MichaelHarvey - I say “turn off” a lamp when that lamp has a knob that turns. In fact I say “turn off” for most things electric included. I don’t say “switch off” very often but when I do it would be for a switch that has a lever-type toggle. I “shut off” water, gas, etc.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:04
Let me amend that- When using the shut-off valve (usually a main supply control) I shut off water and gas. When using the faucet or the control knob on a torch, I turn off water and gas.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:20
. . . or object to using switch with any electronic device that doesn't have a physical switch (or where one isn't used). Say, for instance, it's on a sensor. Or a push button. Or one of those "clap on / clap off" systems. It's only switch (literally) if such a physical object is in place and employed.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 20 at 19:11
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Switch off is a more specific form of turn off. You can use turn off for anything, but switch off is generally only used for electronics. The usage likely comes from the electrical engineering term:
The mechanism of a switch removes or restores the conducting path in a circuit when it is operated. It may be operated manually, for example, a light switch or a keyboard button, may be operated by a moving object such as a door, or may be operated by some sensing element for pressure, temperature or flow
answered Nov 20 at 17:43
Dmann
1,399119
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
They are mostly interchangable: for instance you can switch your car off, turn your phone off and so on.
But some people would object if you said "switch off" for a water tap.
answered Nov 20 at 16:47
neptun
1964
New contributor
neptun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I would. Even if you called it a "faucet". To the OP: we switch electric things on and off, but we can turn off water, gas, etc.
– Michael Harvey
Nov 20 at 17:03
@MichaelHarvey - I say “turn off” a lamp when that lamp has a knob that turns. In fact I say “turn off” for most things electric included. I don’t say “switch off” very often but when I do it would be for a switch that has a lever-type toggle. I “shut off” water, gas, etc.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:04
Let me amend that- When using the shut-off valve (usually a main supply control) I shut off water and gas. When using the faucet or the control knob on a torch, I turn off water and gas.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:20
. . . or object to using switch with any electronic device that doesn't have a physical switch (or where one isn't used). Say, for instance, it's on a sensor. Or a push button. Or one of those "clap on / clap off" systems. It's only switch (literally) if such a physical object is in place and employed.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 20 at 19:11
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
They are mostly interchangable: for instance you can switch your car off, turn your phone off and so on.
But some people would object if you said "switch off" for a water tap.
answered Nov 20 at 16:47
neptun
1964
New contributor
neptun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I would. Even if you called it a "faucet". To the OP: we switch electric things on and off, but we can turn off water, gas, etc.
– Michael Harvey
Nov 20 at 17:03
@MichaelHarvey - I say “turn off” a lamp when that lamp has a knob that turns. In fact I say “turn off” for most things electric included. I don’t say “switch off” very often but when I do it would be for a switch that has a lever-type toggle. I “shut off” water, gas, etc.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:04
Let me amend that- When using the shut-off valve (usually a main supply control) I shut off water and gas. When using the faucet or the control knob on a torch, I turn off water and gas.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:20
. . . or object to using switch with any electronic device that doesn't have a physical switch (or where one isn't used). Say, for instance, it's on a sensor. Or a push button. Or one of those "clap on / clap off" systems. It's only switch (literally) if such a physical object is in place and employed.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 20 at 19:11
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
They are mostly interchangable: for instance you can switch your car off, turn your phone off and so on.
But some people would object if you said "switch off" for a water tap.
answered Nov 20 at 16:47
neptun
1964
New contributor
neptun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
They are mostly interchangable: for instance you can switch your car off, turn your phone off and so on.
But some people would object if you said "switch off" for a water tap.
answered Nov 20 at 16:47
neptun
1964
New contributor
neptun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Nov 20 at 16:47
neptun
1964
New contributor
neptun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Nov 20 at 16:47
neptun
1964
answered Nov 20 at 16:47
neptun
1964
1964
New contributor
neptun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
neptun 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 would. Even if you called it a "faucet". To the OP: we switch electric things on and off, but we can turn off water, gas, etc.
– Michael Harvey
Nov 20 at 17:03
@MichaelHarvey - I say “turn off” a lamp when that lamp has a knob that turns. In fact I say “turn off” for most things electric included. I don’t say “switch off” very often but when I do it would be for a switch that has a lever-type toggle. I “shut off” water, gas, etc.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:04
Let me amend that- When using the shut-off valve (usually a main supply control) I shut off water and gas. When using the faucet or the control knob on a torch, I turn off water and gas.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:20
. . . or object to using switch with any electronic device that doesn't have a physical switch (or where one isn't used). Say, for instance, it's on a sensor. Or a push button. Or one of those "clap on / clap off" systems. It's only switch (literally) if such a physical object is in place and employed.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 20 at 19:11
add a comment |
I would. Even if you called it a "faucet". To the OP: we switch electric things on and off, but we can turn off water, gas, etc.
– Michael Harvey
Nov 20 at 17:03
@MichaelHarvey - I say “turn off” a lamp when that lamp has a knob that turns. In fact I say “turn off” for most things electric included. I don’t say “switch off” very often but when I do it would be for a switch that has a lever-type toggle. I “shut off” water, gas, etc.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:04
Let me amend that- When using the shut-off valve (usually a main supply control) I shut off water and gas. When using the faucet or the control knob on a torch, I turn off water and gas.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:20
. . . or object to using switch with any electronic device that doesn't have a physical switch (or where one isn't used). Say, for instance, it's on a sensor. Or a push button. Or one of those "clap on / clap off" systems. It's only switch (literally) if such a physical object is in place and employed.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 20 at 19:11
I would. Even if you called it a "faucet". To the OP: we switch electric things on and off, but we can turn off water, gas, etc.
– Michael Harvey
Nov 20 at 17:03
I would. Even if you called it a "faucet". To the OP: we switch electric things on and off, but we can turn off water, gas, etc.
– Michael Harvey
Nov 20 at 17:03
@MichaelHarvey - I say “turn off” a lamp when that lamp has a knob that turns. In fact I say “turn off” for most things electric included. I don’t say “switch off” very often but when I do it would be for a switch that has a lever-type toggle. I “shut off” water, gas, etc.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:04
@MichaelHarvey - I say “turn off” a lamp when that lamp has a knob that turns. In fact I say “turn off” for most things electric included. I don’t say “switch off” very often but when I do it would be for a switch that has a lever-type toggle. I “shut off” water, gas, etc.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:04
Let me amend that- When using the shut-off valve (usually a main supply control) I shut off water and gas. When using the faucet or the control knob on a torch, I turn off water and gas.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:20
Let me amend that- When using the shut-off valve (usually a main supply control) I shut off water and gas. When using the faucet or the control knob on a torch, I turn off water and gas.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 18:20
. . . or object to using switch with any electronic device that doesn't have a physical switch (or where one isn't used). Say, for instance, it's on a sensor. Or a push button. Or one of those "clap on / clap off" systems. It's only switch (literally) if such a physical object is in place and employed.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 20 at 19:11
. . . or object to using switch with any electronic device that doesn't have a physical switch (or where one isn't used). Say, for instance, it's on a sensor. Or a push button. Or one of those "clap on / clap off" systems. It's only switch (literally) if such a physical object is in place and employed.
– Jason Bassford
Nov 20 at 19:11
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Switch off is a more specific form of turn off. You can use turn off for anything, but switch off is generally only used for electronics. The usage likely comes from the electrical engineering term:
The mechanism of a switch removes or restores the conducting path in a circuit when it is operated. It may be operated manually, for example, a light switch or a keyboard button, may be operated by a moving object such as a door, or may be operated by some sensing element for pressure, temperature or flow
answered Nov 20 at 17:43
Dmann
1,399119
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Switch off is a more specific form of turn off. You can use turn off for anything, but switch off is generally only used for electronics. The usage likely comes from the electrical engineering term:
The mechanism of a switch removes or restores the conducting path in a circuit when it is operated. It may be operated manually, for example, a light switch or a keyboard button, may be operated by a moving object such as a door, or may be operated by some sensing element for pressure, temperature or flow
answered Nov 20 at 17:43
Dmann
1,399119
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Switch off is a more specific form of turn off. You can use turn off for anything, but switch off is generally only used for electronics. The usage likely comes from the electrical engineering term:
The mechanism of a switch removes or restores the conducting path in a circuit when it is operated. It may be operated manually, for example, a light switch or a keyboard button, may be operated by a moving object such as a door, or may be operated by some sensing element for pressure, temperature or flow
answered Nov 20 at 17:43
Dmann
1,399119
Switch off is a more specific form of turn off. You can use turn off for anything, but switch off is generally only used for electronics. The usage likely comes from the electrical engineering term:
The mechanism of a switch removes or restores the conducting path in a circuit when it is operated. It may be operated manually, for example, a light switch or a keyboard button, may be operated by a moving object such as a door, or may be operated by some sensing element for pressure, temperature or flow
answered Nov 20 at 17:43
Dmann
1,399119
answered Nov 20 at 17:43
Dmann
1,399119
answered Nov 20 at 17:43
Dmann
1,399119
answered Nov 20 at 17:43
Dmann
1,399119
1,399119
add a comment |
add a comment |
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They are interchangeable. "Turn off the light" is a tad more common, however.
– Robusto
Nov 20 at 16:40
2
Possible duplicate of Open/switch on the air-conditioner when we are home Also Turn on vs Switch on, and “Turn out the light” vs “Turn off the light” and probably others.
– FumbleFingers
Nov 20 at 16:48
In the narrow sense that you're asking about here they're equivalent. But you don't switch off the highway, for example.
– Jim Mack
Nov 20 at 17:11
Telling your girlfriend "That dress is a big switch off" would most likely confuse her.
– Hot Licks
Nov 20 at 17:31
You can also end or deactivate things with a shut off, close off, cut off, toggle off, and indeed kill off, among others.
– choster
Nov 20 at 18:12