0

I wouldn't go on a steamboat because I get seasick in the water/on the float/off shore/on the open sea

Is it correct to say 'in the water' in this sentence?

Which option sounds better, on the float/off shore/on the open sea?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

If you always get seasick when on any type of (large) watercraft, you could just say "I get seasick [easily]."

If you're okay on a canoe, or motorboat, or maybe a ferry, but being on a large craft in the open ocean is a problem, "I get seasick on the open ocean" or "I get seasick over deep water" would work.

"In the water" doesn't make sense in this context (that would imply you yourself are literally in the water, i.e. swimming) and "on the float" is not idiomatic in American English. "Off shore" could work but the options above are more commonly used in relation to oceangoing vessels; "off shore" is more often used as a descriptor for a more fixed structure like "off-shore wind farm" or "off-shore drilling platform."

Improve this answer
5
  • The same applies to British English. (Steamboat sounds old-fashioned unless the ship really is steam-powered.)
    – Kate Bunting
    Mar 30, 2021 at 18:40
  • @KateBunting - once aboard the lugger...
    – Michael Harvey
    Mar 30, 2021 at 21:40
  • Thank you, Randomhead. How about 'on the open sea'?
    – i_yre_b
    Apr 1, 2021 at 13:56
  • @i_yre_b that would work as well, and is actually even more common according to Google Ngrams
    – randomhead
    Apr 1, 2021 at 15:03
  • Thank you, @randomhead
    – i_yre_b
    Apr 7, 2021 at 10:43

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .