Thread: shed or shop

It could also be that more of us are fortunate enough to have something better and larger than the "shed" in the back yard as used to be the case.
I am set up in a double garage, which is hardly a shed, and I usually refer to it as my garage/workshop.

I prefer to use the term workshop based on the following:

• My experience is that "workshop" is not an Americanism, but rather the default of most English speaking countries. Which would make "shed" an Anzusanism (Australian & New Zealand).
• It offers clarity to a wider part of the English speaking population, and by extension those for whom English isn't their first language.
• Workshop isn't structure specific. A basement, spare room, garden shed or separate building can all be called a workshop, whereas calling several of them "a shed" would cause most, even locals to rub their chin and look at you oddly.

I really like Derek's choice of nomenclature in "Woodshop". It just feels warm and inviting to my ear.

I think it's a bit of a numbers thing.
Something like 330 million Americans cf about 26 million Aussies.
It's natural to hear a lot more from the numerically greater;
and inevitable that some of that culture will spread.
No judgement in that, just how I see it.

I have the following sign on the door of my shed.
It was acquired when a clean air laboratory at uni was closed down in the early naughties.

Anyone that has been inside my shed will know the surfaces are far from "clean" although the particle counter tells me the air is as clean as the air outside the shed.
Sign2.jpg

However, I do like the term "Laboratory" because;
- I do lots of experiments in there
- it reflects my Italian heritage as "Laboratorio" is a commonly used term for "workshop".
My fitter and turner uncle in Italy referred to his home workshop as a Laboratorio.

In practice I prefer to use "shed" when talking about my setup because;
- I do a variety of different things in there and no single thing (eg woodwork) dominates my activities,
- I still have to store junk and gardening tools in there
- SWMBO has a bench on which she occasionally does various (dirty - dusty) crafts etc
- its always cramped and very messy, whereas to me a "shop" is an airy, open, organised space.

Shed = no
shop = no
sanctuary = yes

Mine is a shed. Within my shed is a 1965 MGB and the family car in one half with my woodworking area in the other half. There is also a ride-on mower, lawn mower, whipper sniper, CNC machine and other sundry items. As such it is a garage, garden/storage shed, workshop and mental health retreat - shed. In other words a multi function shed or MFS. It is commonly referred to as Poppy’s Shed.

My opinion on the subject is that we are going to lose our "Australianess" if we pick up other words in conversation.....words like "lumber" instead of timber, "2 X 4" instead of 4 X 2, etc to my ear it grates. I have mentioned this subject on here previously, so its not new. I live in a house with a shed in the back yard. When reading posts on here that have (mainly "Americanism Names") I wish that people would realise that we call things differently.

I am hoping we don't lose our (Aussie) names for things

I will get off my soap box and slither back under my rock

You sell things in a shop.

The only time I use the word shop is when I say I'm going to the tool shop for essential supplies for the shed

For me it is a contextual thing.

At my previous home I had two sheds; a 6x12m shed where my tools etc were housed and I mostly did my woodwork, and a 3x6m galvanised "lawnlocker" where I stored timber and gardening implements. When we lived there the 3x6 was called the shed and the 6x12 was called the workshop, just to make communication easier.

At the current place I have one 6x15m shed - known as "The Shed".

Now that's the terminology I use when talking to family and friends, including fellow woodworkers, but if I am talking to someone I am doing a commissioned piece for, I refer to my workspace as "the workshop" - even if it's a broom cupboard I am working in at the time.

Bit of a late reply to Bob’s post re his sign on the shed door.
I have a large shed it’s actually a ridgy didge factory in my backyard.
I guess I say to the missus I’m going out to the workshop to pot around nowadaze.
I have a few signs in it just to confuse and amuse any of the great unwashed who venture in
Enjoy.
H.

Originally Posted by Fuzzie

You sell things in a shop.

Or is that a 'store'?

Mine's definitely a shed. It's stand-alone and made of wood.
Pete

Originally Posted by clear out

Bit of a late reply to Bob’s post re his sign on the shed door.
I have a large shed it’s actually a ridgy didge factory in my backyard.
I guess I say to the missus I’m going out to the workshop to pot around nowadaze.
I have a few signs in it just to confuse and amuse any of the great unwashed who venture in
Enjoy.
H.

I agree, Henry has the best collection of shed signs I’ve seen, theyre great and really add character

Originally Posted by woodhutt

Or is that a 'store'?

Pete

No. You keep things in a store for later use. You might however buy something in a shop rather than sell there.

My workshop is more store than shop.