The words “gate” and “gait” sound the same, but they have different meanings. Since they have similar spellings too, it can be easy to confuse them. In this post, we’ll look at how to make sure you use the correct word in your writing.
The word “gate” is a noun that generally refers to part of a fence that opens and closes like a door. For example:
The gates to the park will be locked at 10pm.
My garden gate has rusty hinges.
Other barriers may also be called a “gate,” too. For instance, the part of an airport where you get on or off an aircraft is usually called a “gate”:
Gate 14 is now ready for boarding.
Another meaning for “gate” is the number of people that attend a large event, such as a sports game, or the amount of money taken from attendees:
We saw a gate of 14,000 people last weekend.
The gate for the match was lower than last season.
We can also use “-gate” as a suffix after a noun to create a name for a scandal:
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
The politician’s Italian holiday scandal is being referred to as “pastagate.”
This way of using “-gate” began with the Watergate scandal.
“Gait” is a noun that refers to the way a person or animal walks or runs:
Mark’s gait has been unsteady since the car accident.
She won a prize for her horse’s excellent gait.
Very rarely, “gait” can also be a verb that means “train an animal to walk a certain way,” usually a horse or a dog. In most cases, though, “gait” will be a noun.
While these words look and sound similar, they have very different meanings:
“Gate” is the more common of these words, so it is the one you are likely to need most often. The only time you will need “gait” is when describing how someone or something is walking, so in all other cases the correct spelling will be “gate.”
If you’d like some extra help to check your work is always error free, though, why not try a free trial of our proofreading service today?
Δ
5-minute read
Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...
6-minute read
If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...
9-minute read
Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...
8-minute read
Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...
7-minute read
Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...
4-minute read
Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...