Loose and Lose - Mixed messages and misused words from A to Z
Editors everywhere lose their minds over this one, as
people use language too loosely.
Loose refers to something is too big to fit appropriately.
Think of an over-sized dog collar, a screw that cannot be tightened, or baggy
clothing. Used as a verb, loose means to untie, unbind, or set
free.
But lose points to misplacing, dropping,
or eliminating something (such as a few extra pounds). Lose also refers to falling short or suffering defeat in a conflict or competition.
Here’s a fitting
example of the correct use of loose and
lose.
Want a belt? If those pants are too loose, you might lose them.
Maybe they weren’t loose before, but they are now, since you tightened up that loose waistline. Now cinch up that loose belt before I lose my
lunch.
Have I lost you yet?
Image/s:
Misused word pair
Created by this user
At CoolText
Abused and misused word graphics
adapted from public domain artwork
Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also
invited to join this writer's fan
page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian
Examiner and Madison
Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.
I see these words misused often.
ReplyDeleteI have seen those words wrongly used in published, print material and I'm no talking about blogs, wither!
ReplyDeleteI have seen those words wrongly used in published, print material and I'm not talking about blogs, either!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog yesterday. Good luck with the rest of A to Z!
ReplyDeleteI can relate as a former Teacher of English! Thanks for the entertaining blog.
ReplyDeleteI am an editor, and it drives me crazy! This is one you only see in print, as the pronunciations are different.
ReplyDelete