- 3-minute read
- 9th May 2018
Word Choice: Hear vs. Here
Spoken out loud the words “hear” and “here” sound identical, which may be why they’re often confused in writing. Unfortunately, on paper the difference is a bit more obvious! In this post, then, we’re looking at the differences between these words and how to tell them apart.
Hear (Listen To)
To “hear” something is to sense a sound (this is why we talk about having a sense of “hearing”):
I was in the forest, so I could hear the tree fall.
It can also mean “listen to” or “learn by being told,” such as when we receive news second hand:
I hear that trees fall silently if there’s nobody around.
We also see this word used in “Hear! Hear!” This is an old-fashioned phrase used to express approval of what someone is saying (as if you’re literally saying “Listen to this person!”).
Here (In This Place)
The word “here” can be a noun, an adverb, or even an adjective, but it always means “this place.” Typically, this is the location occupied by the speaker:
Why are we here in this forest anyway?
The tree will land here when it falls.
In both cases above, “here” is used to point to the immediate surroundings or a point nearby. Closeness is important for this word; if we were referring to something further away, we’d say “there.”
Find this useful?
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
In addition, “here” can indicate a point in time or within a process:
We’ll end the lesson here for today.
It can also be used to refer to the previous sentence or passage in writing:
Berkeley wrote that sense objects exist only when they are perceived. Here, we can see how he would have been interested in whether unobserved falling trees make a sound.
This makes “here” a useful word for linking sentences in a paragraph.
Hear or Here?
Mixing up these words in your writing can look bad. However, there’s an easy way to tell them apart: The one about listening contains the word “ear” (i.e., the thing we listen with). So, if you’re writing about sensing a sound or listening to someone, the correct word is “hear.” On the other hand, if you’re writing about a place or position, the word you need will be “here.” Remember:
Hear = Sense a sound or listen to
Here = This place or point
