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Do British people often use the word lightning conductor?
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Do British people use the word lightning conductor more frequently than a lightning rod?
american-english british-english
asked 2 days ago
AngyangAngyang
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Do British people use the word lightning conductor more frequently than a lightning rod?
american-english british-english
asked 2 days ago
AngyangAngyang
314
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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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I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 days 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
2 days ago
3
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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
|
show 4 more comments
Do British people use the word lightning conductor more frequently than a lightning rod?
american-english british-english
asked 2 days ago
AngyangAngyang
314
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 2 days ago
AngyangAngyang
314
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 2 days ago
AngyangAngyang
314
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 2 days ago
Angyang
asked 2 days ago
AngyangAngyang
314
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 2 days ago
AngyangAngyang
314
asked 2 days ago
AngyangAngyang
314
314
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.
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 days 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
2 days ago
3
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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
|
show 4 more comments
I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 days 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
2 days ago
3
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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 days ago
I've also heard "lightning attractor", I am not sure if it was a British person.
– Andrew Tobilko
2 days 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
2 days 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
2 days ago
3
3
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
2 days 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
2 days 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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
|
show 4 more comments
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 days ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.5k12442
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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
1
"avoid saying, or writing, things like this" Why? It was perfectly understandable and 100% valid/correct/accurate.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
2 days ago
3
As a British person, I know the saftey device on a building as a lightning conductor. If I heard "lightning rod" I would imagine sparks flying from a wizard's wand.
– Weather Vane
2 days ago
|
show 6 more comments
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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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 days ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.5k12442
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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
1
"avoid saying, or writing, things like this" Why? It was perfectly understandable and 100% valid/correct/accurate.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
2 days ago
3
As a British person, I know the saftey device on a building as a lightning conductor. If I heard "lightning rod" I would imagine sparks flying from a wizard's wand.
– Weather Vane
2 days ago
|
show 6 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 days ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.5k12442
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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
1
"avoid saying, or writing, things like this" Why? It was perfectly understandable and 100% valid/correct/accurate.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
2 days ago
3
As a British person, I know the saftey device on a building as a lightning conductor. If I heard "lightning rod" I would imagine sparks flying from a wizard's wand.
– Weather Vane
2 days ago
|
show 6 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 days ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.5k12442
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 days ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.5k12442
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.5k12442
answered 2 days ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.5k12442
answered 2 days ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
19.5k12442
19.5k12442
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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
1
"avoid saying, or writing, things like this" Why? It was perfectly understandable and 100% valid/correct/accurate.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
2 days ago
3
As a British person, I know the saftey device on a building as a lightning conductor. If I heard "lightning rod" I would imagine sparks flying from a wizard's wand.
– Weather Vane
2 days ago
|
show 6 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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
1
"avoid saying, or writing, things like this" Why? It was perfectly understandable and 100% valid/correct/accurate.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
2 days ago
3
As a British person, I know the saftey device on a building as a lightning conductor. If I heard "lightning rod" I would imagine sparks flying from a wizard's wand.
– Weather Vane
2 days 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
2 days 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
2 days 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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
Angyang, try hard not to write "lightening" when you mean "lightning".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
1
1
"avoid saying, or writing, things like this" Why? It was perfectly understandable and 100% valid/correct/accurate.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
2 days ago
"avoid saying, or writing, things like this" Why? It was perfectly understandable and 100% valid/correct/accurate.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
2 days ago
3
3
As a British person, I know the saftey device on a building as a lightning conductor. If I heard "lightning rod" I would imagine sparks flying from a wizard's wand.
– Weather Vane
2 days ago
As a British person, I know the saftey device on a building as a lightning conductor. If I heard "lightning rod" I would imagine sparks flying from a wizard's wand.
– Weather Vane
2 days ago
|
show 6 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 days 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
2 days ago
3
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
2 days 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
2 days ago
Angyang - I don't mean the title, but rather the text underneath, "when they are talking about a lightning rod?".
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago