“Wreck havoc” or “wreak havoc”: which is correct?
wreak havoc
The short answer
The correct expression is wreak havoc, where wreak means to cause or inflict, particularly in the context of causing chaos or destruction.
Why people get it wrong
People often confuse wreck with wreak because they sound somewhat similar and are both associated with destructive actions. The phrase wreck havoc seems to make intuitive sense to some, as wreck means to cause destruction.
What kind of mistake it is
Spelling and idiomatic expression error
Examples with wreak havoc
- The storm will wreak havoc on the coastal villages.
- Decisions made in haste may wreak havoc on the company’s future.
- The virus wreaked havoc across the entire population.
Quick check
The storm will on the coastal villages.
The correct expression is wreak havoc, where wreak means to cause or inflict, particularly in the context of causing chaos or destruction.
Spotted a mistake in this article? Tell us