school or shaol

[The-Wolf]

School and Shaol seem to be interchangable, so I was wondering what you call a group of fish.

sources
http/www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/shoal
http/www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/school

both definitions are the same
[n] a large group of fish; "a school of small glittering fish swam by"

 

[Fish Buddy]

The term school used for a group of fish derrived for a typo in a fish paper (so I;m told)
In proper English using proper terms the word is shoal for a group of fish

 

[TorPeteO]

Well, I hardly ever use "shaol", but I do sometimes use "shoal."

 

[The-Wolf]

Well, I hardly ever use "shaol", but I do sometimes use "shoal."

there is always one grammer

. why not go and do something constructive like play on the motorway.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Wheee! Playing on the motorway! I use both, eg. A school of whales (I know they;re not fish, but <CENSORED> off if you don't like it ), or a shoal of fish.

 

[freddyk]

Take your pick, fish people will know what you're talking about anyway

If I'm not mistaken Schoal is the appropriate term.

 

[CFC]

Both are correct. A school of fish is a group of fish all moving in the same direction and a shoal of fish is a group of fish collected in one area but not moving in any particular direction.

 

[Paul_MTS]

I say "a school of fish" or "they are a shoaling fish"

 

[ddm18]

Well, I hardly ever use "shaol", but I do sometimes use "shoal."

there is always one grammer

. why not go and do something constructive like play on the motorway.

Erm... I assume you mean grammAr?

After consulting my all-knowing Oxford English Dictionary, a shoal is a group of fish swimming together, whereas a school is just a group of fish (not necessarily swimming). So, both!

 

[Polardbear]

Personally I like "herd".

 

[ddm18]

Personally I like "herd".

*Imagines Polardbear's tank full of some kind of fish/buffalo beast*

 

[SirMinion]

A school of whales

It's a pod of whales.

I use both school & shoal, but have always used school for the group when seen from the side, and shoal for when seen from above. Don't know why.

I also use 'pack' when refering to a group of social or semi-social predatory fish like sharks, dwarf puffers or piranha.

 

[mwm]

It depends on my mood But i call them both if i want to sound smart i say shoal

 

[sylvia]

It depends but usualy I'll say school for fish that actualy swim together (like harlequins for example) and shoal for those that just generaly like to be in a group but don't realy swim as one (like rosy barbs for example). And of course there's the pod of whales, herd of buffalo and pack of wolves

 

[glolite]

Although you can use both I prefer shoal as SCHOOL (arrrg!!!!) reminds me too much of boring lessons and HOMEWORK