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Learn correct usage of "lead" and "led" along with "loose" and "lose" in this helpful guide. Test your knowledge with examples and practice exercises.
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Writing Lab Diction- Lead/Led and Loose/Lose
Lead and Led • “Lead” is pronounced “leed,” and it is the infinitive form of the verb meaning “to go first.” • Its principal parts are lead, leads, leading, led, and have led. • “Lead” is also pronounced like “bed” when it refers to the graphite at the end of a pencil. • “Lead” becomes “led” when it takes a past tense or participle form (example: has/have/had led and was/were/are/is led).
Led • “Lead” becomes “led” when it takes a past tense or participle form (example: has/have/had led and was/were/are/is led).
Lead and Led examples • The valedictorian will lead the senior class across the stage on graduation day. • We were led to believe that the defendant was innocent. • The lead in each pencil is broken.
Loose and Lose • “Loose” is an adjective meaning “not securely fastened or tightened” or “free from restraint.” • Loose rhymes with goose. • “Lose” is a verb meaning “to fail to win” or “to be unsuccessful in retaining possession of.” • Lose rhymes with choose. • The principal parts of lose are lose, loses, losing, lost, and have lost.
Loose and Lose examples • I hope we do not lose the game. • The loose nail caused the structure to wobble. • The student was upset about losing her favorite book.
Practice • I felt bad about (loosing/losing) my best friend’s necklace. • The dog (led/lead ) the rescue group through the mountains to look for the lost child. • The (led/lead) in my pencil broke while I was taking my test. • My dog escaped from the yard and ran (loose/lose) throughout the neighborhood. • The chair had a (loose/lose) screw, causing the chair to break when someone sat.
Answers • I felt bad about losing my best friend’s necklace. • The dog led the rescue group through the mountains to look for the lost child. • The lead in my pencil broke while I was taking my test. • My dog escaped from the yard and ran loose throughout the neighborhood. • The chair had a loose screw, causing the chair to break when someone sat.
That’s all, folks! • This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series • Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon • To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson