It’s another Thursday and we take a look at a different set of words that are most often than not, mistaken for the other by mostly second language speakers/writers.

Last week, we learnt the difference between Will and Would. In brief, we learnt that Will is only used for definite future while would is used for hypothetical statements. Learn more here.

Today, Lose, Loose, Loss and Lost are our focus.

Loose and lose are the most victims so let us take it from there.

Loose is an adjective which describes an item that is easy fitting or to define it with its opposite, not tight.

For instance

– She wore a loose fitting dress
– The string is loose

Loose can also be act as a verb. Take for instance, the query, who set the dogs loose?

However, you find many writers misrepresenting loose when they mean Lose.

Lose is a verb which simply means to be deprived of victory or a draw.

And so if I want to know what happened in 2020 EPL race, I don’t ask: Did Man City loose the title?

The correct word should be: Did Man City lose the title? The answer is a big yes but that’s just by the way.

I have seen a few instances where some people use loss instead of lose; that’s just sacrilege.

Loss is a noun. It is the state of losing. And so never say, for instance

– Did you loss the game?
– Rather say: Did you lose the game?
Correct usages of loss include:

– How did Pep Guardiola handle the EPL loss?
– Liverpool’s loss to Man City in June has no effect on their season

Lost is the past tense of lose and that is all it is good for.

Do not confuse it with loss, lose or loose.

An example of its usage is: Clinton lost the 2016 elections to Trump.

Is there anything I missed? If I did, let me know in the comments section below, otherwise let’s go to the summary.

Loose – An adjective which describes a non-fitting apparel
Lose – A verb which means being denied victory
Loss – A state of losing
Lost – the past tense of lose

You realise all the words are similar but for loose.

It has no relation to lose and should never be mistaken for it. 

Source - Oswald Azumah