Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse people. I have found the following to be among them:
BAITED / BATED
The verb baited (past tense of to bait) has several meanings, including enticed or lured as well as furnished with bait (that aforementioned enticing item). The verb bated, on the other hand, evolved from the Middle English word for abated and can mean restrained. The phrase that may confuse people in regard to these two words is with baited/bated breath, so here goes:
INCORRECT: He awaited the jury’s decision with baited breath.
CORRECT: He awaited the jury’s decision with bated breath.
To wait with bated breath is to hold, or restrain, your breath while you wait. I can’t think of any reason why you would ever have baited breath — unless, of course, you want to catch a fish in your mouth while you’re swimming in the ocean!
NOTE: The phrase “with bated breath” is a cliché, so it’s best avoided unless used with intentionality as I have done here.
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