One letter can make a lot of difference. There are many words that people misuse unintentionally, among them lose and loose, breath and breathe, and ogle and oogle. If you remember these handy-dandy examples, you’ll be on your way to word wizardry (or at least journeyman status) in no time!
Lose vs. Loose
To lose means to not win, or to misplace something:
You missed that last turn, so you lose!
Did you lose your scarf?
“Lose” is pronounced with a /z/ sound, and rhymes with “whose”.
Loose can be an old-fashioned verb that means to untie, or an adjective meaning not tied up:
I want to loose my hair from its binder.
Look out, that tiger is loose!
“Loose” is pronounced with a /s/ sound, and rhymes with “goose”.
Breath vs. Breathe
Breath is a noun, and describes the actual air inhaled or exhaled by a person.
Take a breath before diving underwater!
“Breath” rhymes with “death”.
Breathe is a verb, and describes the act of inhaling or exhaling.
Breathe deeply to calm yourself down.
“Breathe” rhymes with “seethe”.
Ogle vs. Oogle
Ogle means to look at something lustfully or inappropriately.
He ogled the bikini-clad model.
“Ogle” has a long /o/ sound, and rhymes with “no”.
“Oogle” is not a word. It never was. People have somehow combined “Google” and “ogle” in their brains to make something new, but it doesn’t exist, and it doesn’t mean anything. It hurts me to even write the word “oogle”. Ow. Please stop using it.
One small letter can lead to one big difference. Now you know, and knowing is eight-seventeenths of the battle! Now go forth and use all these words correctly, impressing your friends and coworkers – or at least that geeky one who’s paying attention.