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high and tall

What kind of things are tall?​

We use tall mostly for people, trees, buildings with many floors, and a few other things which are higher than they are wide (e.g. factory chimneys or electricity pylons).

  • How tall are you? (not How high are you?)
  • There are some beautiful tall trees at the end of our garden.

In other cases we usually prefer high.

  • Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe.
  • The garden’s got very high walls.

Measurements​

In measurements, we use tall for people, but we prefer high for things. Compare:

  • I’m 1m 93 tall.
  • That tree is about 30m high.

Distance above the ground​

We use high to talk about distance above the ground. A child standing on a chair may be higher than her mother, although she is probably not taller.

  • That shelf is too high for me to reach.
  • The clouds are very high today.

Parts of the body​

Parts of the body can be long, but not tall.

  • Alex has got beautiful long legs. (not … tall legs.)