Please, sign up or log in to not lose your learning progress!

Exposing the error: "bare witness" vs. "bear witness"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 23/10/2024, 19:09

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Bare witness or bear witness. What's correct?

It is a spelling error and a homophone confusion.

Why do people make this mistake?

People often confuse "bare" with "bear" because they are homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. "Bear witness" is an idiomatic expression meaning to testify or provide evidence, whereas "bare" means uncovered or naked.

What is correct?

"Bear witness" is the correct expression to use when you mean to testify or provide evidence.

Examples of correct usage

She was called to bear witness at the trial.
The documentary bears witness to the effects of climate change.
He asked his friend to bear witness to the signing of the document.

Recommended posts in Grammar

Imminent mistake: understanding the error in "imminent domain"

Imminent mistake: understanding the error in "imminent domain"

People often mishear or misinterpret the term "eminent domain" due ... Learn more →

Brimming over: debunking the "chalk full" error

Brimming over: debunking the "chalk full" error

People make the error because "chalk" and "chock" are homophones ... Learn more →

Tomato, tomatoes, but never "tomatoe"!

Tomato, tomatoes, but never "tomatoe"!

People often add an "e" at the end of "tomato" ... Learn more →

Why "has came" is incorrect: understanding proper verb tense usage

Why "has came" is incorrect: understanding proper verb tense usage

People might make this error due to confusion between the ... Learn more →