ESEN
Which one to use?Intermediateadjectivenoun / verb
LonevsLoan
'Lone' means solitary or single; 'loan' is money lent or the act of lending.
Side-by-side comparison
Lone
adjective"Lone" is the adjective meaning solitary or single: without companions, the only one of its kind. "A lone wolf" = a person who acts or works alone.
A lone wolf was spotted near the edge of the national park.
She was the lone dissenter in an otherwise unanimous vote.
The Lone Ranger is one of America's most iconic fictional heroes.
Loan
noun / verb"Loan" is a sum of money lent that must be repaid, usually with interest. Also the verb to lend something. "Take out a loan" = borrow money formally.
She took out a bank loan to cover the startup costs.
Could you loan me your laptop for the presentation?
The loan must be repaid in full within five years.
Common mistake
- •"Can you lone me some money?" when meaning lend is wrong: the verb for lending money is "loan".
- •"Lone" is the adjective for solitary (lone wolf, lone survivor).
Trick to remember it
- •"Lone" contains ONE: a lone person is one person alone.
- •"Loan" has OAN like "moan": the sound people make when they think about debt.
Quick rule
- •Is it solitary or the only one? "Lone".
- •Is it money lent or the act of lending? "Loan".
Did you know?
The expression "lone wolf" is used in cybersecurity, terrorism, and psychology to describe someone who acts alone, without group support. However, real wolves are rarely truly lone by choice, lone wolves are generally young males expelled from their pack while seeking to establish their own. The image of the powerful, independent lone wolf is more cultural mythology than biology. In finance, a "loan shark" is an illegal lender charging excessive interest, the term combines LOAN (the financial instrument) with the ocean's most feared predator, perfectly reflecting the predatory nature of usury.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She took out a bank _____ to buy her first car.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
A _____ wolf howled in the distance. There was no sign of the rest of the pack.
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