# Loosing vs. Losing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 19, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036 "2016-10-19T15:57:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/1 "2016-10-19T15:57:50Z")
Why do so many people have a problem confusing _loosing_ with _losing_. > [@](#): > > lose > /looz/ > verb > gerund or present participle: **losing** > > 1. be deprived of or cease to have or retain (something). > “I’ve lost my appetite” > synonyms: be deprived of, suffer the loss of; no longer have > “he’s lost a lot of blood” > antonyms: keep, regain > •cause (someone) to fail to gain or retain (something). > “you lost me my appointment at the university” > synonyms: be deprived of an opportunity, fail to benefit, be disadvantaged, be the loser > “if we don’t act soon, we’ll lose out” > •be deprived of (a close relative or friend) through their death or as a result of the breaking off of a relationship. > “she lost her husband in the fire” > •(of a pregnant woman) miscarry (a baby) or suffer the death of (a baby) during childbirth. > •be destroyed or killed, especially through accident or as a result of military action. > “a fishing disaster in which 19 local men were lost” > •decrease in (body weight); undergo a reduction of (a specified amount of weight). > “she couldn’t eat and began to lose weight” > •waste or fail to take advantage of (time or an opportunity). > “they lost every chance to score in the first inning” > > synonyms: miss, waste, squander, fail to grasp, fail to take advantage of, let pass, neglect, forfeit; More > informalpass up, lose out on > “you’ve lost your chance” > antonyms: seize > •(of a watch or clock) become slow by (a specified amount of time). > “this clock will neither gain nor lose a second” > •informal > lose control of one’s temper or emotions. > “in the end I completely lost it—I was screaming at them” > > 1. become unable to find (something or someone). > “I’ve lost the car keys” > synonyms: mislay, misplace, be unable to find, lose track of, leave (behind), fail to keep/retain, fail to keep sight of > “I’ve lost my watch” > [@](#): > > loose > /loos/ > verb > gerund or present participle: **loosing** > set free; release. > “the hounds have been loosed” > synonyms: free, set free, unloose, turn loose, set loose, let loose, let go, release; More > untie, unchain, unfasten, unleash > “loose the dogs” > antonyms: confine > •untie; unfasten. > “the ropes were loosed” > •relax (one’s grip). > “he loosed his grip suddenly” > synonyms: relax, slacken, loosen; More ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/2 "2016-10-19T16:07:11Z")
I have no idea, but it’s one of my biggest pet peeves. Not that it’s a great excuse anyway, but they aren’t even pronounced the same, like two of my other peeves: peak/peek and heel/heal. The only thing I can figure is that the growing epidemic of non-readers are dragging us all down. Hearing language vs. seeing. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/3 "2016-10-19T16:10:17Z")
Agreed. Please let me add “affect” and “effect.” Jeebus. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/4 "2016-10-19T16:38:12Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > like two of my other peeves: peak/peek Peak/peek/pique. Fixed that for you. (shudder) ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/5 "2016-10-19T16:40:23Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > Peak/peek/pique. > > Fixed that for you. (shudder) The people who confuse peak and peek are rarely the people who even realize pique is a word, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/6 "2016-10-19T16:42:56Z")
That theory peaked my interest a bit. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/7 "2016-10-19T16:45:34Z")
I think my biggest peeve is people who keep peeves as pets … get a cat or something will ya? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/8 "2016-10-19T16:45:44Z")
Not as infuriating as “it’s” as a possessive. m’y you’r hi’s/he’r/ **it’s** ou’r you’r thei’r ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/9 "2016-10-19T16:47:41Z")
advice/advise I know the difference between lose and loose, but forget which is witch sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/10 "2016-10-19T16:51:07Z")
Stationery stores that change locations … Principle school administrators that can’t spelt … ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/11 "2016-10-19T16:51:14Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Agreed. Please let me add “affect” and “effect.” Jeebus. That one’s a little more challenging because each one has a noun form and a verb form. Noun: A special effect is something we might see in a movie like Star Trek, whereas a special affect might be how police describe my overall demeanor after a traumatic event. Verb: Trump thinks the media is conspiring to unfairly affect voters; he has accused them of working to effect a Clinton victory. Meanwhile, I’ll add the brakes/breaks confusion some people struggle with. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/12 "2016-10-19T17:18:44Z")
Irregardless, lieing about witch word is rite is worser. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/13 "2016-10-19T17:20:48Z")
> [@Corner\_Case](#): > > Irregardless, lieing about witch word is rite is **worser.** 😃 The correct word is “wurst”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/14 "2016-10-19T17:26:14Z")
I never sausage a nitpick before! ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/15 "2016-10-19T17:31:00Z")
How about phased instead of fazed? ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/16 "2016-10-19T17:38:21Z")
In informal settings such as this I chalk it up to fast typing and lack of proofing. In formal writing, lazy editing. With the former, I give the writer the benefit of the doubt – they likely know the difference but they slipped up. With the latter, there’s really no excuse. ---
**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/17 "2016-10-19T17:45:26Z")
I get letters from my son’s English teacher that confuse you’re and your. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/18 "2016-10-19T17:45:53Z")
People who make a thread title in all lowercase. It’s not necessary to capitalize every word, but at least capitalize the initial letter of the first word. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/19 "2016-10-19T17:46:05Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Why do so many people have a problem confusing _loosing_ with _losing_. WAG: Because it’s far more common in English to spell the “oo” sound with a double o than with a single o. [Why do so many people end a question with a period instead of a question mark?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=147530) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036/20 "2016-10-19T18:12:43Z")
Not related, but, people who add apostrophes to words that end in ‘s’ like get’s or eat’s. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loosing-vs-losing/769036.md?page=2)