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Spelling, Word comparisons

Note 264 – Word confusions: Do you confuse lose with loose?


English: So many words to keep track of!.

Image via Wikipedia

A work colleague suggested today’s blog.  He told me that he’s seeing an increasing amount of people confusing the words lose and loose.  Apparently it’s been a word confusion for many years, more so recently because of predictive texts. 

Why is everybody starting to spell “lose” wrong? writes a very frustrated user on yahoo answers.  This question is followed by quite a few replies by irritated people and one even said “by 2050 I bet people won’t even be able to put sentences together”.  I hope not!

If you have trouble with these words The Essay Expert.com have written a whole paragraph of text using both words in their article Common Spelling Mistakes: Lose vs. Loose.  Also you can try and remember that lose is an verb as in to lose your mind (where lose rhymes with booze) and loose is mostly used as an adjective a loose thread (where loose rhymes with goose).  

Grammar Monster look at this word confusion from a different angle and suggest that “this is due to the lack of consistency in pronouncing words that end ‘oose’ and ‘ose’.  For example, loose (LOOSS) rhymes with noose (NOOSS) but not choose (CHOOZ)”.

That’s all for today.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra
Freelance Writer
www.sandramadeira.com

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About Sandra Madeira

I am a working mum and entrepreneur with a passion for writing, coaching, mentoring and inspiring others. Subjects I tend to blog about are life skills, parenting, decluttering, worklife balance, career etc. I’ve been on a decluttering mission for years creating space in my house, garden and mind. In 2020 I challenged myself to declutter every day for a whole year and write about it daily. After that success I took on a challenge to change my career from accountant to life coach, and in early 2024 set up my own company. I continue to keep up with the decluttering, and now write daily about my home life and coaching business. Have a good day! Sandra https://www.sandra@solarcoaching.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandramadeirasmith

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  1. Pingback: Note 265 – Word confusions: proof, prove and proving « My writing challenge - January 20, 2012

  2. Pingback: Confusion, at it’s BEST!!! « The Chaotic Soul - January 25, 2012

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