# Maybe not a "great debate".... (Jars v Bottles) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888 "2017-10-26T14:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/1 "2017-10-26T14:16:11Z")
But certainly a discussion my husband and I have had fun with. And we haven’t come to a conclusion yet. What’s the difference between a bottle and a jar? What are the defining characteristics of a bottle and those of a jar? I think you’ll find this more challenging than you think. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/2 "2017-10-26T14:18:57Z")
A bottle has a neck: a jar doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/3 "2017-10-26T14:20:21Z")
A bottle is used for liquids. A jar is used for solids and liquids that don’t easily pour from a bottle i.e. honey. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/4 "2017-10-26T14:21:44Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > A bottle has a neck: a jar doesn’t. Exactly this. And a bottles opening is considerably smaller than a jar. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/5 "2017-10-26T14:23:20Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > A bottle has a neck: a jar doesn’t. Adding to this, the bottle has a neck leading to an opening narrower than the body of the bottle, for controlled pouring of liquid. The jar’s opening is about the same size as the body of the jar, to allow solid contents (or a mix of solid and liquid contents) to be spooned out. No doubt there are many many ambiguous examples, though. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/6 "2017-10-26T14:32:06Z")
Neither one is a sandwich, and the dress is white and blue. > [@running\_coach](#): > > A bottle is used for liquids. A jar is used for solids and liquids that don’t easily pour from a bottle i.e. honey. So [this](https://jet.com/product/detail/366635ce610d43ef9c54dfc18fecc44c?jcmp=pla:ggl:jd_cons_gen_grocery_a3:grocery_cooking_baking_supplies_honey_syrups_a3:na:PLA_786070974_46630714288_pla-305215491326_c:na:na:na:2PLA15&code=PLA15&pid=kenshoo_int&c=786070974&is_retargeting=true&clickid=41453f97-5689-4bdc-919a-4d339b278539&gclid=CjwKCAjwj8bPBRBiEiwASlFLFQaw9w_3ICSUlcpQSZokZPOvFSd1U5DM-RnSxNLa5V6koERpMBguvxoCUocQAvD_BwE) isn’t a bottle? ---
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/7 "2017-10-26T14:34:07Z")
Why do we call it a bottle of aspirin and a jar of peanut butter when the containers have basically the same shape? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/8 "2017-10-26T14:44:04Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > So [this](https://jet.com/product/detail/366635ce610d43ef9c54dfc18fecc44c?jcmp=pla:ggl:jd_cons_gen_grocery_a3:grocery_cooking_baking_supplies_honey_syrups_a3:na:PLA_786070974_46630714288_pla-305215491326_c:na:na:na:2PLA15&code=PLA15&pid=kenshoo_int&c=786070974&is_retargeting=true&clickid=41453f97-5689-4bdc-919a-4d339b278539&gclid=CjwKCAjwj8bPBRBiEiwASlFLFQaw9w_3ICSUlcpQSZokZPOvFSd1U5DM-RnSxNLa5V6koERpMBguvxoCUocQAvD_BwE) isn’t a bottle? That’s a bear. Different thing entirely. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/9 "2017-10-26T14:47:48Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > Why do we call it a bottle of aspirin and a jar of peanut butter when the containers have basically the same shape? Aspirin has traditionally been sold in containers with an opening smaller than the body of the container, so it’s a bottle. With peanut butter, the opening is about the same size as the container, so it’s a jar. English is highly idiomatic, but these two examples actually fit the usual pattern of usage. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/10 "2017-10-26T14:50:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Neither one is a sandwich, and the dress is white and blue. > > So [this](https://jet.com/product/detail/366635ce610d43ef9c54dfc18fecc44c?jcmp=pla:ggl:jd_cons_gen_grocery_a3:grocery_cooking_baking_supplies_honey_syrups_a3:na:PLA_786070974_46630714288_pla-305215491326_c:na:na:na:2PLA15&code=PLA15&pid=kenshoo_int&c=786070974&is_retargeting=true&clickid=41453f97-5689-4bdc-919a-4d339b278539&gclid=CjwKCAjwj8bPBRBiEiwASlFLFQaw9w_3ICSUlcpQSZokZPOvFSd1U5DM-RnSxNLa5V6koERpMBguvxoCUocQAvD_BwE) isn’t a bottle? Yes. Why wouldn’t it be? (It has a spout, which makes it even MORE bottle-y.) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/11 "2017-10-26T14:57:44Z")
Gotta agree with the title. Off to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/12 "2017-10-26T15:16:17Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Gotta agree with the title. > > Off to IMHO. Awwww. The “maybe not” was more about the “great” rather than the “debate”. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/13 "2017-10-26T16:00:41Z")
The terms overlap. The quintessential jar is a mason jar. The quintessential bottle is a longneck beer bottle. But some items like pill bottles are more like small jars even though they’re called bottles. And then there are jugs, pots, flasks, beakers, vats, flagons, vessels, basins, tubs, urns, buckets and amphorae. I don’t envy English language learners. Native speakers can’t even sort this out. Wait until you find out what “inflammable” means. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/14 "2017-10-26T16:18:15Z")
And vials, pails, and barrels. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/15 "2017-10-26T18:03:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > That’s a bear. Different thing entirely. You win the thread! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/16 "2017-10-26T18:21:42Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > Why do we call it a bottle of aspirin and a jar of peanut butter when the containers have basically the same shape? You pour aspirin out of the bottle. You stick a knife into the jar to get the peanut butter out. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/17 "2017-10-26T18:29:51Z")
Do a [Google image search for “aspirin bottle”](https://www.google.com/search?q=aspirin+bottle&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjdmdTK9Y7XAhVKqFQKHcVSBrsQ_AUICigB&biw=1182&bih=740) - pretty much every aspirin container has a neck significantly narrower than the body. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/18 "2017-10-26T18:31:20Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > You pour aspirin out of the bottle. You stick a knife into the jar to get the peanut butter out. I stick a knife into the aspirin bottle to get the cotton out of the top of it. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/19 "2017-10-26T20:14:43Z")
Bottle definition: a container, typically made of glass or plastic and with **a narrow neck** , used for storing drinks or other liquids. Source: Google Jar definition: **a broad-mouthed container** , usually cylindrical and of glass or earthenware Source: [Jar Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com](http://www.dictionary.com/browse/jar) Look at images of each. The commonly understood difference is bloody obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888/20 "2017-10-26T20:25:03Z")
I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a jar in front of me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-a-great-debate-jars-v-bottles/799888.md?page=2)