Are these words interchangeable or it has some restrictions? I mean are these both correct:
“Turn off the light.”
“Switch off the light.”
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They are interchangeable. "Turn off the light" is a tad more common, however.– RobustoCommented Nov 20, 2018 at 16:40
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2Possible 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.– FumbleFingersCommented Nov 20, 2018 at 16:48
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In the narrow sense that you're asking about here they're equivalent. But you don't switch off the highway, for example.– Jim MackCommented Nov 20, 2018 at 17:11
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Telling your girlfriend "That dress is a big switch off" would most likely confuse her.– Hot LicksCommented Nov 20, 2018 at 17:31
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You can also end or deactivate things with a shut off, close off, cut off, toggle off, and indeed kill off, among others.– chosterCommented Nov 20, 2018 at 18:12
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2 Answers
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.
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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. Commented Nov 20, 2018 at 17:03
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@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.– JimCommented Nov 20, 2018 at 18:04
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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.– JimCommented Nov 20, 2018 at 18:20
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. . . 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. Commented Nov 20, 2018 at 19:11
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
