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This has got to be one of my biggest pet peeves. I’m reading some articles online today doing some research for work. In one particular article, the author continuously uses loose instead of lose. I literally can not finish the article because I am so annoyed. It’s possible that I am slightly extra grouchy today because of the fact I was wide awake in bed last night from 2 am-5:30 am. Or maybe it’s because it’s 12 degrees outside today. Or maybe Jupiter is aligning improperly with the rest of the dag-on planets and now my aura is off or something. All I know is grown people should KNOW the difference between lose and loose.
Thank you dictionary.com for the following definitions:
[loos] Show IPA adjective, loos·er, loos·est, adverb, verb, loosed, loos·ing.
adjective
1. free or released from fastening or attachment: a loose end.
2. free from anything that binds or restrains
3. uncombined, as a chemical element.
4. not bound together: to wear one’s hair loose.
5. not put up in a package or other container: loose mushrooms.
verb (used with object)
1. to come to be without something in one’s possession or care
2. to fail inadvertently to retain something
3. to suffer the deprivation of: to lose one’s job; to lose one’s life.
4. to be bereaved of by death: to lose a sister.
5. to fail to keep, preserve, or maintain: to lose one’s balance; to lose one’s figure.So, are the differences clear here? Lose is a verb- which means you can lose some money (not loose some money) or lose your job (not loose your job). Loose is used as an adjective (a descriptive word remember); your clothes are too loose, or your dog could get loose.Often times if you say the sentence in your head and the word you want ends in a ‘z’ sound- that’s lose. Loose sounds like an ‘s’ at the end.Please people, watch your grammar. Before I loose my mind.
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I couldn’t agree more! I also hate when people make up words like “flustrated”. What is it, are you flustered or frustrated, pick one!
I do too! But I have to admit, I use the word slickery in the winter to describe the roads. So, I guess I don’t really have room to talk
Would you write it though in an article? I use a few choice words in public that I probably wouldn’t write down.
Never. Lol. Facebook Status update is one thing- professionally, never. I have seen some horribly written articles before and wonder if they had a 5 year old proof-read it
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People should also know the difference between breath and
breathe. I constantly see those misused on Facebook. Drives me
nuts!
Yes!! Or their and there. Another big one!