I found a typo in the newspaper the other day. This isn’t the first time but this was in a headline, for crying out loud. “Water, Fertilize, Breath Better.” Total facepalm (they did correct it in the online edition, I’m pleased to note).
The synonym for inhale is breathe, not breath. I often see these words interchanged. Not usually in newspapers, though.
Breath is a noun. It can belong to me or you or that guy over there. It can be cold or hot or smell like garlic. But it can’t be what you are doing. You can’t breath! It makes no sense, unless you’re vaporous, partially carbon dioxide and effusing throughout the room.
Breathe is the verb, what you do. You can “take a deep breath” or “breathe deep.” But note the difference! You take (verb) a breath (noun), like you take a nap. You breathe (verb), like you nap.[Yes, I'm aware this is coming from someone who can’t be trusted to spell a name correctly. No need to point that out.]
Man, I think this post should be listed under the Language of Confusion moniker. It’s not etymology, but it sure is confusing! I wonder if other languages have homophones or near homophones that are two different types of words.
Okay. Rant is done. I’ll go back in my cage now. Hey, it’s Saturday. This isn’t going to be freaking WAR AND PEACE.
Oh yay, yes! A post on the diff between breath and breathe. I critique a lot (some for pay even) and I see this ALL THE TIME. Very common mistake.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Saturday!
I totally had a problem with breath/breathe when I first started writing a few years ago. I can proudly say that I do know the difference now! LOL I don't know why I'd ever gotten them confused in the first place. It's not that hard! :D I find mistakes like that in our newspaper as well. Drives me crazy!
ReplyDeleteI often reread my work and find this mistake. All the time. But a newspaper mixing up the two. . . gosh, that's pretty intense. ;)
ReplyDeleteFrom time to time I catch mistakes like this in newspapers.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher who taught my mother's family English remarked that it was a crazy language to try to pick up.
Drives me crazy when professionals do that. It is just lame. But, I see how it happens, esp. in my own writing.
ReplyDeleteIt pays to force my hubby into proofing my writing.
That's a mistake that makes me crazy. I always have to read the sentence twice when those words are interchanged.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot of mistakes with breath/breathe. Drives me crazy too.
ReplyDeleteYIKES, though I am probably way more likely to mess up the headline than anything else since I always just assume I managed to get those few words right ;)
ReplyDeleteThis irks me too! So does lose and loose. So similar in spelling yet such different meanings!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see 'Breathe' and 'Breath' used wrongly, I feel like bursting a blood vessel, lol. And the error is soooo common!
ReplyDelete