Grammar Grappler #8: Home versus Hone

As has been the trend in recent posts, yet again I’m blogging about something I have been saying incorrectly for most of my life. And I never realized it until recently. In fact, it was such a light-bulb moment that I called several people close to me to ask them how they used this term, and this one must run in the family because everyone I called said it incorrectly as well. 

What about you? Below is the pop quiz question I used. How would you answer it?

Lawrence finally [homed in, honed in] on the true reason he has been unable to get a good night’s sleep.

Scroll for the answer.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

 

.

Answer: homed in

Lawrence finally homed in on the true reason he has been unable to get a good night’s sleep.

I have always said honed in similar situations.

I have always been wrong.

To home in means to get closer to something such as an object or a goal or the truth. Picture a homing pigeon (why haven’t I realized that before).

To hone means to sharpen something—and you don’t hone in on anything.

Rett honed his test-taking skills in preparation for the ACT.

And, I’m certainly honing my vocabulary this month.

 

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

You might also like:

How Do You Handle Virtual Meeting Whiners?

Use this App to Capture Fresh Presentation Ideas

Wacky Word of the Week: Purge this Particular Word

Photo by Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash