ESEN
Which one to use?Intermediatenounnoun / verb
FlairvsFlare
'Flair' is a natural talent or stylish aptitude; 'flare' is a sudden burst of light or flame, or to spread outward.
Side-by-side comparison
Flair
noun"Flair" is a natural talent or a distinctive, eye-catching style. Someone with "flair" does things with an elegance or originality that is hard to imitate.
She has a real flair for languages, she picked up Japanese in under a year.
His presentations have an undeniable flair that keeps audiences engaged throughout.
The chef added the sauce with a flair that made the dish look effortlessly elegant.
Flare
noun / verb"Flare" describes a sudden, intense burst of light or flame, or a widening shape. It can be a signal rocket, a burst of anger, or a pair of wide-bottomed trousers.
The distress flare lit up the night sky, alerting the coast guard to their position.
Her arthritis tends to flare up in cold weather, making it difficult to type.
The trousers had a slight flare at the ankle, giving them a retro seventies look.
Common mistake
- •"She has a flare for fashion" when meaning natural talent is wrong: the innate aptitude is "flair".
- •"A solar flair" is also wrong: the burst of solar energy is "flare".
Trick to remember it
- •"Flair" has AIR: an intangible quality, like an air of sophistication.
- •"Flare" has ARE like "blazing" and "bare": something visible and physical, like fire.
Quick rule
- •Is it the natural talent or stylish aptitude? "Flair".
- •Is it the burst of light, the signal, or an outward spread? "Flare".
Did you know?
"Flair" comes from Old French "flairer" (to smell, to have a good nose), originally it described keen instinct, like an animal with a good nose for danger. Over time it shifted from literal smell to figurative aptitude. "Flare" traces to old Norse or Middle Dutch "vlarren" (to wave, to flutter). Emergency flares burn magnesium or aluminum powder and produce light visible for kilometers. Solar flares are electromagnetic energy bursts powerful enough to knock out satellites and cause power outages.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She has a real _____ for cooking. Everything she makes tastes amazing.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The rescue team fired a _____ to signal their position in the dark.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
AcceptvsExcept
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
AdvicevsAdvise
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
AffectvsEffect
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
AislevsIsle
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy