Made of v's Made from

[annie0000]

I always thought that the correct term is to say that something is made from something. e.g. the jumper was "made from" wool. Increasingly though it seems to be that everyone says "made of" instead. This was also used on BBC childrens tv. I have been correcting my children to say made from

Which would be correct?

[R1Geezer]

It's made from or could be Made out of, but you really need to get out more.

[annie0000]

Probably, but you when you have noticed something, it really starts to bug the hell out of you...........!!!

For example there is a post in Chatterbank asking who the government borrow money off - I just wanted to shout "from".


Sad I agree, but when the BBC can't even get it right, what is the world coming to - maybe I should right to Points of View!!!

[fredpuli47]

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary gives " make,followed by 'of', 'out of','with ". Note that it doesn't give 'make from' !

Your version does not appear to have official sanction, but it's said often enough.

[annie0000]

Ahhh so it's me that is out of step - I still think it sounds better.

[jno]

hmmm... a door might be made of wood but made from an oak tree. One's just a material, one's another thing that has been transformed... I'm guessing here, though. I think made of is always ok, made out of is a slightly less formal way of putting it, and made from won't be wrong but is less common.

Good Q, though, because it's forced me to think!

[Playbill]

annie0000,

You touched a nerve with borrowed 'off', it has the same effect with me - or maybe the same affect!

Another one to scream at is 'would you BORROW me some money'.

[annie0000]

Just typed a great big long answer and lost it when my connection went down for a few seconds - can't be bothered retyping it all, so I'll just say thanks all.

[Quizmonster]

I suspect made from is an Americanism - not that there's anything whatsoever wrong with that! I seem to recall an episode of The Simpsons in which Monty Burns - in the process of trying to adopt him - tried to persuade Bart to have some ice-cream by saying: "It's made from hooves, you know!" The phrase's absence from the OED, as pointed out by Fred above, might support that view. It is certainly commonly enough used in British English, but it certainly isn't the only correct form.

[THECORBYLOON]

I would say a table is made OF wood as it is recognizable as wood. I would say paper is sometimes made FROM wood as a process has been used and the wood is no longer recognizable.

[TrishK7]

Waste of time complaining to the BBC. I have complained several times about the misuse of the word barter.
Yet presenters on programmes like Car Booty and Sun Sea and Bargain Spotting continue to say barter when they mean haggle. I could strangle Angela Rippon.
I would say made from, but I say different from, not different to and vulnerable instead of vunnerable.

[annie0000]

Thanks all - Trish, what part of the world are you from? Just wondering if it is a regional thing.