# It's LOSE, not LOOSE, goddamit! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 22, 2006, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-lose-not-loose-goddamit/365581 "2006-07-22T05:42:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-lose-not-loose-goddamit/365581/101 "2006-07-25T14:37:06Z")
OK, we’ve complained about almost every nit in language and spelling but this one: there is no ‘e’ in **lightning**. “Does lightening occur in the sun?” Yes, it does. The sun lightens nearly everything, except for your skin, which it darkens. The only lightening in a storm is when it stops and the clouds part, and the sun comes out. ---
**Author:** ![jaderabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@jaderabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaderabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-lose-not-loose-goddamit/365581/102 "2006-07-25T18:32:37Z")
[QUOTE=Lizard] Lose = to misplace something or to be defeated; Loose = to untighten, or an adjective describing objects that are not securely fastened, etc. One does not “loose” their car keys; an unsuccessful person is not a “looser.” If you use that word to describe such a person, that makes YOU a --what for it-- LOSER! [/QUOTE] This one drives me nuts, too. One thing that fascinates me about “loose” as a verb is that its usage seems very specific. One might loosen their tie, but one looses one’s bowels. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-lose-not-loose-goddamit/365581/103 "2006-07-25T18:54:41Z")
Actually, lightening occurs when lightning strikes, as well. It also occurs universally when lightening strikes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-lose-not-loose-goddamit/365581/104 "2006-07-25T19:26:51Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] OK, we’ve complained about almost every nit in language and spelling but this one: there is no ‘e’ in **lightning**. [/QUOTE] =^.^=; I’m guilty of that one. And I only figured it out last year… ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-lose-not-loose-goddamit/365581/105 "2006-07-25T20:24:35Z")
[QUOTE=Onomatopoeia] I just **chocked** it up to someone attempting to use a word they’re clearly unfamiliar with [/QUOTE] I believe the word I’ve bolded should be changed to [_chalked_.](http://www.answers.com/chalk%20up) Related to the breath/breathe confusion noted upthread: I just read a post in which someone said “I loath their attitude.” Well, I _loathe_ the widespread ignorance of the fact that _loath_ is an adjective (loath to attend the meeting), while the silent _e_ is necessary if the verb is being written. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-lose-not-loose-goddamit/365581/106 "2006-07-25T21:16:16Z")
Homonyms drive me nuts more than other mis-spellings, I think because their the type of error most likely to be made by someone writing a story good enough for me to actually read. I was reading an (otherwise very good) fanfic the other day when a character ran up to someone and threw their arms around his waste. :eek: Sorta broke the mooed. Oh, and choked / chocked too. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-lose-not-loose-goddamit/365581/107 "2006-07-25T22:24:20Z")
[QUOTE=Sternvogel] I believe the word I’ve bolded should be changed to [_chalked_.](http://www.answers.com/chalk%20up) [/QUOTE] Heheh…I was chomping at the bit waiting to see if someone would catch that 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-lose-not-loose-goddamit/365581.md?page=5)