Stress and strain both a pain

October 8th, 2008 at 07:00am Barry Wood

I vaguely recall from my geology studies that there was a definite difference between “stress” and “strain.” The pressure of various forces upon rocks was stress, and the rocks’ response, bending or fracturing, for example, was strain. Of course, I may not be remembering it correctly — I realized long ago I was in over my head in that field.

In common parlance, as they say, the two can be considered pretty much the same. In fact, the first definition for the noun “stress” is “strain or straining force.”

As verbs, “strain” is generally more suited to actual exertion — to strain muscles, for example — while “stress” is associated with mental or emotional pressures. Both come from the same Latin root, the verb “stringere,” “to draw tight,” which also is the origin of “strict.”

But whether you’re feeling the strain or feeling stressed, either can be hazardous to your health.

Entry Filed under: word origins