A helpful exposition of an excellent author’s craft

[Bazzle]

A gold star for the first person who can explain when to use "stone" and when to use "rock."

stone can be used in a craft.

As we drove up the long and winding drive the grey stone used to build the large house created an imposing atmosphere.

rock is an natural thing- like an outcrop

in the pouring rain as we marched along the muddy path the jutting grey rocks blocked our way, meaning new had to scramble and climb over, ripping my trousers in the coarse edges.

that's my 2 thoughts.

 

[Bazzle]

A gold star for the first person who can explain when to use "stone" and when to use "rock."

you have a "rock drill" but a "stone saw"

limestone, iron/sand/mud/stone are soft

granite rocky outcrop hard and harsh!

 

[Cacatua_Galerita]

I use the distinction that a rock is the naturally occurring hard mineral. If a rock is moved by a human to give it a purpose, it becomes a stone. For example, if you pick up a rock to use as a hammer, it becomes a stone tool and stonemasons source rocks as their raw material (to make stone structures). Climbers still climb a “rock face” because they don’t move it. Using a rock it in its natural place (e.g. for shelter) doesn’t make it a stone.

However, like the difference between ship and boat, this definition is imperfect. So there are plenty of exceptions.

• A lot of people say “rock wall” when it isn’t a natural rock face.
• Similarly, people construct “rock gardens” (usually attempting to make it look “natural”).
• A lot of people say “river stones” when the rocks haven’t been moved (perhaps because they look just like those river stones used in construction?).
• If you pointed out a sapphire “gem rock” to me, it’ll quickly become a “gem stone”, because I’m taking it.

When you make a cutting through rock to build a road, the remaining rock is still a rock because it hasn’t been moved from its natural location. The waste is just rock rubble, because it has no purpose. (Unless some of it is taken to make paving stones, grinding stones, sharpening stones, etc.)

Displacement and purpose are the requirements for turning rock to stone. Shaping isn’t necessary (although, it is best to choose an appropriately shaped rock if you want a skipping stone).

My nautical distinction for boat/ship is: a boat leans inwards in a turn, while a ship rolls outwards in a turn. There are other definitions and historical conventions, but this is the (imperfect) categorization I prefer.

 

[XerXesXu]

Since this is a topic of great interest, can anyone distinguish between a rock and/or a stone - if or, why? - and a pebble? Can anyone distinguish a pebble from a boulder and a grain of sand; at what point does one become the other? How is sand distinguished from gravel?

I'm sure that knowledge of such subtleties will improve the standard of creative, evocative, and immersive writing by AH denizens, markedly.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Since this is a topic of great interest, can anyone distinguish between a rock and/or a stone - if or, why? - and a pebble? Can anyone distinguish a pebble from a boulder and a grain of sand; at what point does one become the other? How is sand distinguished from gravel?

I'm sure that knowledge of such subtleties will improve the standard of creative, evocative, and immersive writing by AH denizens, markedly.

I would certainly hope so. Choosing just the right word seems like an important part of writing to me.

 

[XerXesXu]

I would certainly hope so. Choosing just the right word seems like an important part of writing to me.

The ability 'to see the world in a grain of sand and hold infinity in your hand' does no one's writing any harm.

 

[Mastered_again]

Painting with Soft Brush-strokes by @onehitwanda is an essay that made me think about my own writing differently. May I recommend it to you all.

Thanks, Emily for the post. Onehitwanda, cudos for the essay. In general, I employ some of the same techniques, but still much on which to ruminate. Very helpful.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

A gold star for the first person who can explain when to use "stone" and when to use "rock."

MB, would you prefer that somebody stone you or rock you?

 

[MelissaBaby]

MB, would you prefer that somebody stone you or rock you?

I don't get stoned anymore, but I still rock.

 

[Cacatua_Galerita]

Thanks for the pointer, Em.

I don't want to write in onehitwanda’s style – but I can learn from her essay. It has shown me I don’t put enough effort into developing the potential of each sentence.

I must admit, I have given up reading a few of her stories due to her style. Too many soft strokes and not enough structure for me. Perhaps I’m too impatient for a plot to form? I lack the letter clumps to describe it, but her openings remind me of the artistic Mr. Plow ad on The Simpsons; lovely imagery... but what’s it about?

Maybe I’m not free-spirited enough to just go with the flow? Those who are able to lose themselves in her embellishments are certainly moved by her stories.

Note that I don’t like poetry – so I’ll categorize myself as uncultured, rather than suggest onehitwanda’s work is flawed. It seems she’s painting a Rembrandt or a Monet, while I’m looking for a CAD diagram or blueprint.

Her essay is written in a style that I like. Lucid, compelling, structured, and entertaining – she is a talented writer. I’ve thanked onehitwanda in the comments section and I thank her here, too.