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

Why "brake away" hits the wrong pedal: a guide to this common mix-up

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 30/09/2024, 23:40

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Brake away or break away. What's correct?

Spelling and usage error

Why do people make this mistake?

People often confuse words that sound alike but have different meanings, such as "brake" and "break". The error arises because "break away" is a phrasal verb that means to escape or separate suddenly, whereas "brake" is a noun or verb related to slowing down or stopping a vehicle. The similar pronunciation leads to the confusion.

What is correct?

The correct phrase is "break away", meaning to escape or separate suddenly from something.

Examples of correct usage

The cyclist managed to break away from the pack during the race.
She wanted to break away from tradition and travel the world.
Once the negotiations fell through, the smaller company decided to break away.

Recommended posts in Grammar

Why "en mass" is a common phrase mishap

Why "en mass" is a common phrase mishap

The error occurs because "en mass" is a phonetic misspelling ... Learn more →

Avoiding "a one of the" wrong article use

Avoiding "a one of the" wrong article use

People may make this error due to confusion about article ... Learn more →

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

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

People often confuse "bare" with "bear" because they are homophones—words ... Learn more →

Why "having began" doesn't begin correctly

Why "having began" doesn't begin correctly

People often mistake "began" as the past participle form of ... Learn more →