Faint / Feint

Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse people. I have found the following to be among them:

FAINT / FEINT

As a verb, the word faint means lose consciousness due to lack of blood flow to the brain; the verb feint means deceive or make a pretense of.

Incorrect: I sometimes feint at the sight of blood, so get ready to catch me.

Correct: I sometimes faint at the sight of blood, so get ready to catch me.

Incorrect: Watch that boxer faint with his right then jab with his left.

Correct: Watch that boxer feint with his right then jab with his left.

© 2019 Ann Henry. All Rights Reserved.

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