Difference between revisions of "Throes - throws"
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* '''Throes''' are literally muscular spasms or contractions. We can say that a woman is ‘in the '''throes''' of childbirth’. We talk of the ‘death '''throes'''’ of a hunted animal – the last few desperate movements of the muscles of the dying organism. We can also use the word figuratively. A writer beating their brows for inspiration might be said to be ‘in the '''throes''' of composition’. A man groaning and twitching might be ‘in the '''throes''' of’ despair – or love! | * '''Throes''' are literally muscular spasms or contractions. We can say that a woman is ‘in the '''throes''' of childbirth’. We talk of the ‘death '''throes'''’ of a hunted animal – the last few desperate movements of the muscles of the dying organism. We can also use the word figuratively. A writer beating their brows for inspiration might be said to be ‘in the '''throes''' of composition’. A man groaning and twitching might be ‘in the '''throes''' of’ despair – or love! | ||
| − | [[Category:Homophones]] [[Category:Usage]] | + | Never write that someone 'is in the <s>throws</s> of' an emotion, etc. This just betrays your lack of knowledge. |
| + | It should be someone 'is in the '''throes''' of' an emotion, etc. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Homophones]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Usage]] | ||
Revision as of 21:00, 19 October 2010
These homophones have been confused.
- Throws is the plural of the noun ‘a throw’, as in “each player has two throws of the diceâ€.
- As a verb, throws is the 3rd person singular of the verb ‘to throw’, as in "He throws the ball".
- Throes are literally muscular spasms or contractions. We can say that a woman is ‘in the throes of childbirth’. We talk of the ‘death throes’ of a hunted animal – the last few desperate movements of the muscles of the dying organism. We can also use the word figuratively. A writer beating their brows for inspiration might be said to be ‘in the throes of composition’. A man groaning and twitching might be ‘in the throes of’ despair – or love!
Never write that someone 'is in thethrowsof' an emotion, etc. This just betrays your lack of knowledge. It should be someone 'is in the throes of' an emotion, etc.
