Loose vs. Lose: Slack vs. Misplace

The Distinction

• Loose = not tight, free, slack (adjective, rhymes with “moose”)
• Lose = to misplace, fail to win, or no longer have (verb, rhymes with “choose”)

Loose: Not Tight

“Loose” describes something that isn’t secured or is free:

• “The screw is loose.” ✓
• “Wear loose clothing.” ✓
• “The dog got loose.” ✓
• “There’s a loose connection.” ✓

You can also “loose” something (set it free), but this is rare and formal.

Lose: Gone

“Lose” is about not having something anymore:

• “Don’t lose your keys.” ✓
• “We might lose the game.” ✓
• “I don’t want to lose you.” ✓
• “She tends to lose track of time.” ✓

Pronunciation Matters

This is key to remembering:

• Loose = “LOOS” (rhymes with goose, moose)
• Lose = “LOOZ” (rhymes with choose, blues)

The double O in “loose” is pronounced like “oo” in “too.” The single O in “lose” sounds like “oo” but the word has the “z” sound.

The Memory Trick

• Loose has two O’s—lots of room, like something loose
• Lose has one O—you lost one

Or: Loose as a goose (both have double O).

Common Mistakes

Wrong: “I don’t want to loose my phone.” Right: “I don’t want to lose my phone.”

Wrong: “My pants are too lose.” Right: “My pants are too loose.”

Wrong: “Did we loose the game?” Right: “Did we lose the game?”

Quick Test

Is it about something not being tight? → loose Is it about misplacing or failing to keep? → lose

Also: Is it a verb describing an action? Usually → lose Is it an adjective describing a condition? Usually → loose

Forms of Each Word

Loose:

• Adjective: “The wire is loose.”
• Verb (rare): “Loose the hounds!” (set free)
• Adverb form: loosely

Lose:

• Present: lose
• Past: lost
• Present participle: losing
• Related noun: loss

Common Phrases

Loose	Lose
Loose change	Lose your mind
Loose ends	Lose weight
Cut loose	Lose track
On the loose	Lose sleep
Loose cannon	Lose patience

Remember

• Loose = not tight (two O’s = extra room)
• Lose = misplace or fail to win (one O = lost the other)