“To make space” or “to make a space”?

Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP

.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;

up vote
7
down vote

favorite

Which is correct/sounds more natural?

Example sentence:

He tries to make (a) space by shoving my bag away.

I found both options on Google.

phrase-choice

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

alexchenco

2,10682555

add a comment | 

up vote
7
down vote

favorite

Which is correct/sounds more natural?

Example sentence:

He tries to make (a) space by shoving my bag away.

I found both options on Google.

phrase-choice

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

alexchenco

2,10682555

add a comment | 

up vote
7
down vote

favorite

up vote
7
down vote

favorite

Which is correct/sounds more natural?

Example sentence:

He tries to make (a) space by shoving my bag away.

I found both options on Google.

phrase-choice

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

alexchenco

2,10682555

Which is correct/sounds more natural?

Example sentence:

He tries to make (a) space by shoving my bag away.

I found both options on Google.

phrase-choice

phrase-choice

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

alexchenco

2,10682555

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

alexchenco

2,10682555

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

alexchenco

2,10682555

asked yesterday

alexchenco

2,10682555

asked yesterday

alexchenco

2,10682555

2,10682555

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
15
down vote



accepted

Both are acceptable but mean slightly different things. "To make a space" implies that a specific open area is being made for a specific purpose or object in a particular location. "To make space" is more vague and relaxed and denotes the creation of more available space in general. In some cases one is more appropriate than the other, and in other cases both would work. As a native speaker my ear has a preference for "to make space" so I'd prefer that form if there is overlap.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

TypeIA

3314

New contributor

TypeIA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  There is an implication of discreteness. 'A space' implies they are countable, like chairs or desks or parking spaces or something. 'Space' implies continuous space which isn't being counted, like in a park or on the ocean.
  – user1908704
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, "make a space" could imply that there currently isn't any space, while "make space" could imply adding more space to an existing space.
  – jaxad0127
  14 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

I think it is probably more idiomatic to use:

make room (for someone or something):

to provide space for someone or something.

• Make room for Sam. He needs a place to sit. Can you make room for this package?

(The Free Dictionary)

See also Google Books for make room, vs make space, make a space.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

user070221

3,356525

add a comment | 

Your Answer

StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "481"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);

else
createEditor();

);

function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: false,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);



);

 

draft saved

draft discarded

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);

Sign up using Google

Sign up using Facebook

Sign up using Email and Password

Post as a guest

Name Email

StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f179528%2fto-make-space-or-to-make-a-space%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest

Name Email

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
15
down vote



accepted

Both are acceptable but mean slightly different things. "To make a space" implies that a specific open area is being made for a specific purpose or object in a particular location. "To make space" is more vague and relaxed and denotes the creation of more available space in general. In some cases one is more appropriate than the other, and in other cases both would work. As a native speaker my ear has a preference for "to make space" so I'd prefer that form if there is overlap.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

TypeIA

3314

New contributor

TypeIA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  There is an implication of discreteness. 'A space' implies they are countable, like chairs or desks or parking spaces or something. 'Space' implies continuous space which isn't being counted, like in a park or on the ocean.
  – user1908704
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, "make a space" could imply that there currently isn't any space, while "make space" could imply adding more space to an existing space.
  – jaxad0127
  14 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
15
down vote



accepted

Both are acceptable but mean slightly different things. "To make a space" implies that a specific open area is being made for a specific purpose or object in a particular location. "To make space" is more vague and relaxed and denotes the creation of more available space in general. In some cases one is more appropriate than the other, and in other cases both would work. As a native speaker my ear has a preference for "to make space" so I'd prefer that form if there is overlap.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

TypeIA

3314

New contributor

TypeIA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  There is an implication of discreteness. 'A space' implies they are countable, like chairs or desks or parking spaces or something. 'Space' implies continuous space which isn't being counted, like in a park or on the ocean.
  – user1908704
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, "make a space" could imply that there currently isn't any space, while "make space" could imply adding more space to an existing space.
  – jaxad0127
  14 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
15
down vote



accepted

up vote
15
down vote



accepted

Both are acceptable but mean slightly different things. "To make a space" implies that a specific open area is being made for a specific purpose or object in a particular location. "To make space" is more vague and relaxed and denotes the creation of more available space in general. In some cases one is more appropriate than the other, and in other cases both would work. As a native speaker my ear has a preference for "to make space" so I'd prefer that form if there is overlap.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

TypeIA

3314

New contributor

TypeIA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Both are acceptable but mean slightly different things. "To make a space" implies that a specific open area is being made for a specific purpose or object in a particular location. "To make space" is more vague and relaxed and denotes the creation of more available space in general. In some cases one is more appropriate than the other, and in other cases both would work. As a native speaker my ear has a preference for "to make space" so I'd prefer that form if there is overlap.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

TypeIA

3314

New contributor

TypeIA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

TypeIA

3314

New contributor

TypeIA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

TypeIA

3314

answered yesterday

TypeIA

3314

3314

New contributor

TypeIA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

TypeIA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

TypeIA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  There is an implication of discreteness. 'A space' implies they are countable, like chairs or desks or parking spaces or something. 'Space' implies continuous space which isn't being counted, like in a park or on the ocean.
  – user1908704
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, "make a space" could imply that there currently isn't any space, while "make space" could imply adding more space to an existing space.
  – jaxad0127
  14 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  There is an implication of discreteness. 'A space' implies they are countable, like chairs or desks or parking spaces or something. 'Space' implies continuous space which isn't being counted, like in a park or on the ocean.
  – user1908704
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Also, "make a space" could imply that there currently isn't any space, while "make space" could imply adding more space to an existing space.
  – jaxad0127
  14 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

8

8

There is an implication of discreteness. 'A space' implies they are countable, like chairs or desks or parking spaces or something. 'Space' implies continuous space which isn't being counted, like in a park or on the ocean.
– user1908704
15 hours ago

There is an implication of discreteness. 'A space' implies they are countable, like chairs or desks or parking spaces or something. 'Space' implies continuous space which isn't being counted, like in a park or on the ocean.
– user1908704
15 hours ago

1

1

Also, "make a space" could imply that there currently isn't any space, while "make space" could imply adding more space to an existing space.
– jaxad0127
14 hours ago

Also, "make a space" could imply that there currently isn't any space, while "make space" could imply adding more space to an existing space.
– jaxad0127
14 hours ago

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

I think it is probably more idiomatic to use:

make room (for someone or something):

to provide space for someone or something.

• Make room for Sam. He needs a place to sit. Can you make room for this package?

(The Free Dictionary)

See also Google Books for make room, vs make space, make a space.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

user070221

3,356525

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

I think it is probably more idiomatic to use:

make room (for someone or something):

to provide space for someone or something.

• Make room for Sam. He needs a place to sit. Can you make room for this package?

(The Free Dictionary)

See also Google Books for make room, vs make space, make a space.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

user070221

3,356525

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

up vote
9
down vote

I think it is probably more idiomatic to use:

make room (for someone or something):

to provide space for someone or something.

• Make room for Sam. He needs a place to sit. Can you make room for this package?

(The Free Dictionary)

See also Google Books for make room, vs make space, make a space.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

user070221

3,356525

I think it is probably more idiomatic to use:

make room (for someone or something):

to provide space for someone or something.

• Make room for Sam. He needs a place to sit. Can you make room for this package?

(The Free Dictionary)

See also Google Books for make room, vs make space, make a space.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

user070221

3,356525

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

edited yesterday

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

user070221

3,356525

answered yesterday

user070221

3,356525

answered yesterday

user070221

3,356525

3,356525

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

 

draft saved

draft discarded

 

draft saved

draft discarded

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);

Sign up using Google

Sign up using Facebook

Sign up using Email and Password

Post as a guest

Name Email

StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f179528%2fto-make-space-or-to-make-a-space%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest

Name Email

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);

Sign up using Google

Sign up using Facebook

Sign up using Email and Password

Post as a guest

Name Email

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);

Sign up using Google

Sign up using Facebook

Sign up using Email and Password

Post as a guest

Name Email

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);

Sign up using Google

Sign up using Facebook

Sign up using Email and Password

Sign up using Google

Sign up using Facebook

Sign up using Email and Password

Post as a guest

Name Email

Name Email

Name

Email

Name Email

Name

Email