Deck the Halls: Bow vs. Bough

blog home

What does each word mean?

The word bow describes a number of different things:

  • a curved piece of wood with taut strands that is used to play stringed instruments
  • a weapon for shooting arrows
  • the front of a ship
  • a type of knot formed with loops
  • the act of bending the head, body, or knee either in reverence or at the end of a performance
  • the act of yielding to someone else’s wishes.

Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word.

Here is this bow used in some example sentences:

  • The violinist had a lucky bow.
  • She was known for her skill with a bow and arrow.
  • The bow of a ship is designed to reduce the resistance of the hull cutting through the water.
  • He tied his shoelaces into bows.
  • She bowed to her mother’s wishes.
  • At the end of the Nativity play, the children held hands and bowed.
  • He took a bow.

Click here to find Spellzone vocabulary lists related to the word bow.

A bough is a large tree branch.

Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word.

Here is bough used in some example sentences:

  • The boughs were covered with blossom.
  • They decked the halls with boughs of holly.
  • She hung a shining star upon the highest bough.

Click here to find Spellzone vocabulary lists related to the word bough.

Are there any tricks to help remember the difference between bow and bough?

  • Bow and low are both spelt with the letters ow. Think of someone bending low in a bow or crouching low to tie their laces into bows.
  • Boughs, Over Us, Grow High

 

What words do you constantly mix up? Let us know and we’ll cover them in our Commonly Confused Words series.

Sources: The Online Etymology Dictionary.


15 Dec 2017
blog home

Try Spellzone for free

Recent Blogs

How to Recognise and Overcome Tricky Spelling Patterns With Clarity and Confidence
How to Teach Spelling with Minimal Stress: Simple Techniques for Busy Teachers
Spelling for Mindfulness: How Slowing Down Can Help You Focus and Learn
Spelling Slip-Ups: Everyday Words People Often Get Wrong (and Clever Ways to Get Them Right)
Jamie Oliver’s Dyslexia Revolution: Why Schools Must Do More Than Just Listen
Embedding Spelling Practice Across All Subjects in Primary Schools: Supporting Literacy Beyond English Lessons
How to Teach Spelling to Reluctant Learners: Engaging and Low-Stress Methods
Why English Spelling Is So Hard And What You Can Do About It
Spelling Tricks for Words That Don’t Sound How They’re Spelled
From Spelling to Pronunciation: Why English Words Don’t Always Sound How They Look
How Spelling Tests Can Be a Positive Learning Opportunity: Encouraging a Healthy Relationship with Assessments
Why Some Words Have Double Letters: Spelling Rules and Tips
Why Spelling Rules Matter: How Patterns Simplify Learning
Spellzone Earns High Praise in Independent Pedagogical Quality Report
Spelling Through Visualisation: Using Imagery to Remember Words
How Reading Improves Spelling: The Power of Context
Tricky English Spelling Patterns: How to Teach Common Letter Combinations
How to Create Effective Spelling Word Lists for Students: A Guide for Educators
Understanding Root Words: Unlocking the Meaning of Complex Words
Navigating the World of Hyphenated Words in English

"Thank goodness for Spellzone during this remote learning phase. The site is easy for students to navigate independently and they're really enjoying the activities and spelling games. You get an awful lot for your money with Spellzone. Really reassuring is the very prompt response with helpdesk queries. I've very rarely needed the helpdesk, but when I have, the issue has been addressed and sorted within a very short time."

Sarah Taggart, Oasis Academy Lord's Hill