Spade or shovel?Light hearted.

I always thought that a spade was for gardening,a shovel was for building etc.

I rarely have need to refer to either (insert snooty emoji)

A shovel is deep, and a spade more flat

Tempted to say I call a spade a spade

For me it depends on the shape. A spade is flat, e.g. a garden spade, whereas a shovel has curved edges, e.g. a coal shovel.

I wouldn’t dream of correcting someone else’s name for the things, how rude.

A spade is what I use in the garden (or on a beach!). I have a shovel too - last used for moving some hard-core. It's a rougher tool and as fanny says, deeper.

I call a spade a spade and a shovel a shovel.

What were you using for your shoveling Yammy?
I might well use a spade if I was removing moss off some flat surface and didn't have something easier.

I might then shovel it up with the same tool! ...but if there was s lot I might use a shovel...

As everyone else has said …two different things!

A spade has a flat blade, whilst a shovel has raised sides. So it's not a case of using different words for the same item. They are different items.

Spade.

A spade has a long handle and is used for digging, usually earth and heavy substances; a shovel has a short handle and is used for shovelling up coal, refuse. gravel etc.

FannyCornforth

A shovel is deep, and a spade more flat

Indeed. Different horses for different courses...

Well I'm quite likely to shovel up soil with a spade!

Does a spade have a longer handle too, or is that optional?
A spade is for digging, I suppose; and a shovel for shovelling

(This thread is strangely compelling. We should have one like this every day.)

Sorry, eazybee I’ve just almost said word for word what you said

NanaDana

A spade has a flat blade, whilst a shovel has raised sides. So it's not a case of using different words for the same item. They are different items.

So I was using a shovel it was one the builders left and better for getting under the moss.

Yes, a shovel can have a long handle FannyC you are right! Digging would be hard work with a shovel but shovelling is tricky with a spade

FannyCornforth

I rarely have need to refer to either (insert snooty emoji)

One's servants shovel the sh.... do they Fanny.

It’s ironic really Yammy, as MrC was a self employed builder for 40 odd years and we have every type of building based implement, tool, gadget, widget, and gizmo known to man.
We even have a blooming concrete mixer in the garden

Spade for gardening..shovel for building work,

I like the idea of your blooming cement mixer FannyCornforth which particular blooms are they?

I use a snow shovel ,never a snow spade!

Blossoming

Tempted to say I call a spade a spade

For me it depends on the shape. A spade is flat, e.g. a garden spade, whereas a shovel has curved edges, e.g. a coal shovel.

I wouldn’t dream of correcting someone else’s name for the things, how rude.

Hear hear!

2 totally different tools. I have several spades for the garden, and shovels for other jobs, with short and long handles. And forks, with fork handles, ahahah.

I read recently someone was going to have their dog ‘spade’ !! Poor thing didn’t deserve that I’m sure 😳