How to Talk About Staying Safe

This week we answer a question from Terrence in Vietnam. He writes:

Question:

Which of the following forms is more correct in English usage?

"Yes, we can go out but we need to be social distant from one another." or

"Yes, we can go out but we need to be social distanced from one another."

-- Terrence, Vietnam.

Answer:

Dear Terrence,

Thank you for this timely question. The expression "social distancing" is new to everyday English. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses it to describe the practice of avoiding gatherings¹ and keeping about two meters distant from other people. One sign of this social distancing is the markings on floors of some shops: they show where we should stand in relation to others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is using a new term, however.

"We're changing to say physical distance and that's on purpose because we want people to still remain connected," said Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious diseases expert at the WHO.

"Technology right now has advanced so greatly that we can keep connected in many ways... without being in the same room," she noted².

How to use the noun social distancing

Terrence, in your sentences, you use "social distance." But the term under discussion employs a different noun, "distancing," to talk about the method of avoiding disease.

I would change your first sentence this way:

Yes, we can go out but we need to practice social distancing.

That is using the expression as a noun. The verb is "practice."

How to use socially distance as a verb

In March, the Merriam-Webster dictionary expanded its definitions for many of the words we use to talk about the spread of COVID-19. The dictionary now includes a medical definition for the verb socially distance: to distance physically³ from other people or avoid any unnecessary contact with others during the outbreak of a contagious⁴ disease..."

For your second sentence, you can use this verb form:

Yes, we can go out but we need to socially distance ourselves from each other.

You could also say,

We need to physically distance ourselves from one another, but I would love to meet you in a video call tonight.

Reasons for social distancing

Another new expression we have is "flatten⁵ the curve." That basically means to slow the spread so that medical systems do not get overwhelmed.

And you may have heard the term "front line workers." Those are the people employed in health care, delivery services, emergency services, food production and food stores. They are the people who cannot work from the safety of their homes. And we are very thankful for them.

So, if your friend asks you:

Why are we social distancing?

You can answer:

To flatten the curve and protect front-line workers.

And now, I will ask you to do something. Please send your questions about English to us by email: [email protected].

And that's Ask a Teacher for this week.

I'm Jill Robbins.

Words in This Story

practice – n. the action of doing or using something

advanced – adj. far along in a course of progress or development:

contagious – adj. able to be passed from one person or animal to another

curve – n. a smooth, rounded line, shape, path, etc.

1 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

4 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

5 flatten   

v.把．．．弄平，使倒伏；使(漆等)失去光泽

参考例句：

• We can flatten out a piece of metal by hammering it.我们可以用锤子把一块金属敲平。
• The wrinkled silk will flatten out if you iron it.发皱的丝绸可以用熨斗烫平。