The words “wave” and “waive” sound identical. And to make matters more confusing, “wave” has several meanings in different situations. It’s thus no surprise that people get these terms confused! But to make sure you avoid mix ups in your writing, check out our advice below.
The word “wave” has several meanings as a verb and a noun. This can make it difficult to master! However, the two verb uses you’ll see most often are:
As a noun, meanwhile, “wave” can refer to:
In academic writing, moreover, you may need the scientific definition of a wave: a pattern in which some forms of energy move, especially light, sound, and heat (e.g., Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation).
“Waive” is a much simpler word! It is always a verb and means either “forfeit a right to something” or “refrain from enforcing a rule.” For instance:
You cannot print his name unless he waives his right to anonymity.
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We’ll waive the fee this time, but make sure not to do it again!
An agreement to waive something, moreover, is known as a waiver.
If you struggle with these terms, remember the following:
The good news is that “waive” only has one meaning: refraining from using a right or enforcing a rule. In any other case, you’ll need “wave.” And if you want to be extra sure your writing is error free, why not have it have it proofread?
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