Common Errors in English Usage: Loath/Loathe

Based on text from Paul Brians’ book Common Errors in English Usage (Sherwood, Oregon: William James & Co., 2013), to which, as I always remind users of the this blog, Professor Brians allows free access at his Washington State University web page, here is a worksheet on the uses of the adjective loath and the verb loathe. I was a bit surprised to hear the adjective (used as “I am loath to drive my car into the lake”) is actually pronounced like both. I’ve always pronounced it like the verb, which sounds like clothe.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

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