It Bears Repeating: Is It Bears or Bares?

The article It Bears Repeating: Is It Bears or Bares? appeared first on The Write Practice.

It bears repeating that the English language is full of odd sayings. Never fear, though—we’re here to break them down.

It Bears Repeating: Is It Bears or Bares?

Grammar Collectibles

Whether I’m proofreading short stories, full manuscripts, or a billboard on the highway, I’ve always been a grammar nerd. (I edit the billboards on the highway in my head. I’m fun on road trips.)

As a professional editor, I think finding and fixing grammar mistakes is as enjoyable as gathering hidden gems.

Today I’d like to explain a saying that most people have heard before, but don’t always know how to use correctly.

No Bears Here

What do you think of when you hear the word “bear”? I’m guessing you imagine something like this:

There are no toothy mammals in “it bears repeating,” though. The word “bear” has several meanings.

Here, it’s a verb: “to bear” means “to be worthy of.” “It bears repeating,” then, means “it’s worth repeating.”

Remember, it’s “bear,” not “bare.” “To bare” means “to uncover,” which has very different implications!

It Bears Repeating

What does this look like out in the wild? Let’s use it in a sentence:

“Wow, Sam did such a great job on his science project!” said Sam’s aunt.

“He did! But it bears repeating that he didn’t do it alone—Marianne and Jack were a huge help,” said his mom.

Sam’s aunt is excited about how well he did on his science project. His mom is, too. But she uses “it bears repeating” to remind his aunt of something she already knows: Sam had great people helping him.

It’s Worth Remembering

You probably don’t hear “it bears repeating” every day. It’s a bit of a formal turn of phrase, and “it’s worth repeating” works just as well.

You could even go more casual with “like I said,” or borderline rude with “I already told you.”

Still, it’s worth remembering the meaning (and spelling!) of the phrase. Perhaps this image of bears will help it stick in your mind:

“Pete and Repeat were in a boat. Pete got out. Who was left?” “Oh my goodness I told you to stop saying that!”

Do you use “it bears repeating”? What other odd turns of phrase trip you up? Let us know in the comments.

Need more grammar help? My favorite tool that helps find grammar problems and even generates reports to help improve my writing is ProWritingAid. Works with Word, Scrivener, Google Docs, and web browsers. Also, be sure to use my coupon code to get 20 percent off: WritePractice20

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PRACTICE

Take fifteen minutes to write a scene using the phrase “it bears repeating” as many times as possible. Bonus points if your characters are bears!

When you’re done, share your writing in the practice box below. It bears repeating that the best way to grow as a writer is through giving and receiving feedback, so be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers!

Enter your practice here:

The article It Bears Repeating: Is It Bears or Bares? appeared first on The Write Practice. The Write Practice – The Online Writing Workbook

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Author: Alice Sudlow