en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Why "is loathe to" misspeaks the intention

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 09/10/2024, 12:21
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Is loathe to or is loath to. What's correct?

Misuse of homophones

Why do people make this mistake?

People often confuse the words "loathe" and "loath" because they sound similar and are spelled similarly, but they have different meanings and usages.

What is correct?

The correct phrase is "is loath to", using "loath" (an adjective meaning "reluctant" or "unwilling") instead of "loathe" (a verb meaning "to intensely dislike").

Examples of correct usage

  • She is loath to admit her mistakes.
  • He was loath to leave the party early.
  • They are loath to change their plans.

Recommended posts in Grammar

Why "acheive" misspells your success

Why "acheive" misspells your success

The error occurs due to the common confusion about the ... Learn more →

Why "itself" stands alone: unpacking a common mistake

Why "itself" stands alone: unpacking a common mistake

People might mistakenly add a space due to misunderstanding "itself" ... 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 "to login" doesn't log in: understanding a common grammar mistake

Why "to login" doesn't log in: understanding a common grammar mistake

People often treat "login" as a verb due to its ... Learn more →