Difference between revisions of "Throes - throws"
From Hull AWE
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| − | These | + | These [[homophone]]s have been confused. |
| − | Throws is the plural of the noun ‘a throw’, as in “each player has two '''throws''' of the dice†| + | * '''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! | ||
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[[Category:Homophones]] [[Category:Usage]] | [[Category:Homophones]] [[Category:Usage]] | ||
Revision as of 11:52, 3 April 2007
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!
