The Wall Street Journal | January 12, 2022
"Markets lose momentum as investors react to inflation report."
Lose vs. Loose
The '30 Seconds' Difference At A Glance
'Lose' is a verb meaning to misplace something or fail to win. 'Loose' is primarily an adjective meaning not tight or firmly fixed.
If you wear loose shoes, you might lose them while running.
A Deeper Look
'Lose' is about something going missing or not winning. It's always about something bad happening - you lose things you want to keep!
I always lose my keys when I'm in a hurry.
Our team might lose the match if we don't play better.
'Loose' means not tight or not properly fixed - think of a wobbly tooth or baggy clothes.
These jeans are too loose - I need a smaller size.
There's a loose floorboard in the hallway.
Quick tip: 'Loose' has two O's, like two big loose pockets. 'Lose', however, has lost an O!
Common Usage Patterns
Lose
Common phrases: lose weight, lose time, lose patience, lose track, lose hope
Loose
Common phrases: loose fit, loose change, loose ends, break loose, cut loose
Key Patterns
Lose typically appears with abstract concepts (patience, time) or physical items. Loose usually describes physical properties or freedom of movement.
What Teachers Say
"I tell students that anything that can fall out or come undone is 'loose' - it's about physical tightness. 'Lose' is about something going missing or being defeated."
-- Patricia, Dublin
"The confusion often comes from pronunciation. In many accents, 'loose' sounds like it has a 'z' sound, but it's spelled with an 's'."
-- Thomas, Chicago
"Once students understand that 'loose' describes a state and 'lose' describes an action, they rarely mix them up again."
-- Mei, Singapore
From The Headlines
The Guardian | March 28, 2017
"Engineers warn loose bolts could compromise bridge safety."
USA Today | September 15, 2012
"New study shows Americans continue to lose sleep over financial worries."
Test Yourself!
1. The shirt is too _______ around the shoulders.
2. If you _______ your keys again, you'll need to call a locksmith.
3. The _______ floorboard caused me to _______ my balance.
