Something In The Air: Breath vs. Breathe

May 17, 2009 in Advice | 1 comment

When I’m reading a manuscript, it’s easy for me to pick up on one or two writerly tics that are repeated over and over… and proceed to drive me nuts. It is much more rare and exotic when several manuscripts have the same error or idiosyncrasy in them.

These last couple of weeks, I’ve been coming across more and more incorrect uses of the word “breath.” Sentences like: “I tried not to breath” or “It was too cold to breath” or “I struggled out of the water and could finally breath.” This is so utterly wrong it takes my breath away!

Here’s the rule:

“When I breathe, I take a breath.”

Now, let’s all take a nice big breath and repeat after me. “Breathe = verb, breath = noun!” Very good, class. As easy as, well, breathing!

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  1. Kate at Read This Book!’s avatar

    Kate at Read This Book! on September 7, 2009 at 7:37 am

    Wow I’m surprised people are making this mistake. I am pretty clear about the difference between both words!