Learn English – “Room” versus “space” (in the sense of unoccupied volume)

nounsword-choice

Space: Place, having more or less extension; room.
Room: Unobstructed space; space which may be occupied by or devoted to any object (…)
(from Webster's)

The general guiding his troops wants space to manoeuvre, but most people want room, breathing room. There's no space for a new file on my hard disk, but no room for a new book on my shelves. Maybe there's room for argument here. (Are my examples idiomatic? I am not a native English speaker.)

What guides the choice between room and space in this sense? Are there other words to consider (such as place, which I would have thought to be a Gallicism)?

Best Answer

The NOAD defines space and room as follow:

  • room: space that can be occupied or where something can be done, especially viewed in terms of whether there is enough
  • space: a continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or unoccupied

The difference is that room is used to refer to space that can be occupied, while space is used to refer to an unoccupied area, and which could be kept unoccupied.

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