loose != lose
I see this mistake so often online, I wonder what causes it. I mean, really, it’s endemic.
Usually “loose” is used when “lose” was meant, but I’ve seen the opposite mistake as well.
For the record:
- “loose” means not tight.
- “lose” means to no longer have.
Ok, both words have a whole lot of meanings, but they don’t overlap.
KnitBot:
I actually expect to see an entry in the OED Real Soon Now: it is such a common mistake that I think we practically have to give up and accept it as part of the language.
Grrr.
13 June 2005, 2:16 pm