The Method Behind the Madness

The English language can so often be like navigating murky waters without any kind of a map to show the way. For those who are uncomfortable with the language, it may seem even hazier. It can often seem like the way native English speakers write might make no sense at all, given the list of rules that don’t seem consistent. However, there is a method behind these rules, and even if they seem arbitrary or dated, there are reasons why they exist.

Words themselves can often be confusing, especially if they sound or look the same. It’s tempting, for instance, to confuse the words “their”, “they’re”, and “there” because they sound like the same word. But they’re not the same word, especially when their meaning is not there.

It helps to remember that “they’re” is just “they are” expressed as a contraction. You would not look they are for the meaning of the word; you would, instead, look there. Similarly, remember that “there” is a direction, while “their” is a statement of ownership. I might be pointing in their direction, but without ownership, I am just pointing there. This might seem confusing, but it helps to focus on how the word looks instead of how it sounds.

Another common mistake is the difference between “affect” and “effect”, which look mostly the same and can sometimes even be pronounced similarly. The main difference is the part of speech and how it’s used in the sentence. It’s possible to affect something, but there must always be an “e” in effect.

The point to consider in the affect/effect confusion is that each word acts differently. “Affect” is a verb and must be treated like an action. In contrast, “effect” is a noun and does not convey any kind of action. You normally wouldn’t use a noun to show action, nor would you refer to a thing with a verb. Remember the parts of speech and how they work, and it’s easier to keep the differences in mind.

There’s a similar issue at play when comparing “loose” and “lose”, though this one is a bit on the trickier side. It’s possible to lose change as well as loose change, but the meanings are very different. The problem here is that while “loose” is often an adjective, it can also be used as a verb. On the other hand, “lose” is always a verb and can’t be used as an adjective. So this is a more complicated case if you’re looking for just the right word.

In this case, it may be best to consider their opposites. “Loose” is the opposite of tight, while “lose” is the opposite of find. If you don’t want to tighten something, it’s best to loosen it. If you can’t find something, then maybe you’ve lost it. While the two words only differ by a single letter, they work in very different ways that are easier to spot.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!