Easy Grammar Tip #2: Loose and Lose
Today I would like to address a mistake that I see everywhere, blogs, social media, texts. It's everywhere! It drives me nuts!
As always, I am sympathetic to writers who are not native English speakers. I'm not as sympathetic to native English speakers, but I am digging around for some compassion. ;-)
The words "loose" and "lose" have two different meanings. And they just get thrown around with abandon by people who do not realize what a big mistake it is. I've seen this stick out like a sore thumb on otherwise well written posts.
So here we go:
Loose indicates a person, place or thing has gotten away, broke free, is coming undone, etc. Loose change, loose screw, escaped convict running loose, etc. Usually if something is loose it needs to be fixed, or found.
Then we have:
Lose is mainly a future tense word, but not always. It is synonymous with lost or loss. If you lose something it can't be fixed, it's gone.
"If your team doesn't practice, they will LOSE the game tomorrow night."
I hope this helps a little. These grammar glitches really do stick out. If I've contributed to cleaning up some of the confusion, then my work here is done. ;-)
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Recent Comments
16
The grammar checker didn't catch that one. I know I have trouble with its and it's and I have a terrible time trying to figure out if it is (its?) affect or effect. If I'm losing my mind my loose will affect me terribly. The effect will be devastating.
LOL! Don't worry just do your best. Those little things are hard for AI programs to catch. When you are using it's for it is - it gets an apostrophe. :-)
I am totally guilty of getting stuck with these two words! Thanks for the clear examples. Makes total sense and will definitely help me out when I get stuck on which of these words to use.
Somewhat related, I find people also confuse loss and lost.
I have signed a number of sympathy cards where most-- not some, most-- of the comments are "sorry for your lost."
Every time I see that I want to correct it, but as you can imagine, that is not the ideal time to play grammar Nazi.
Wendy - Thanks! I knew the answer to this one, but I can use all the help I can get with my grammar.
My best hope is that English teachers don't need to lose weight to wear loose clothes. If they do they will be in a tremor when they exit my best losing weight site. Grammar police can quickly see I've lost my ability to communicate properly via the written word.
Yet, I can not help myself. I must continue to convert my rudimentary thoughts into semi-proper English to satisfy my soul.
Keep them coming, Wendy.
Like how you said "It's everywhere! It drives me nuts!" You have a sense of humor.:)
Excellent tips! Thought we would have been on tip 10 by now, lol.
Very necessary and helpful!
David
I'm afraid my day job wears me to a pulp. Otherwise we certainly would have been on #10 by now. LOL!
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Wendy, this is an excellent explanation!
As a non-native English speaker I have been uncertain of this. Now, I believe I have finally got it, thanks to you.
:-)