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 "wet my appetite" doesn't hold water

Why "wet my appetite" doesn't hold water

People often confuse "wet" with "whet" due to their similar ... Learn more →

Why "back and fourth" is incorrect: common misstep in English

Why "back and fourth" is incorrect: common misstep in English

People often make this error because the word "fourth" is ... Learn more →

A singular misstep: correcting "a fungi"

A singular misstep: correcting "a fungi"

People often confuse the plural term "fungi" with the singular ... Learn more →

A startling omission: why "suprise" needs its 'r'

A startling omission: why "suprise" needs its 'r'

People often make this error because the first "r" in ... Learn more →