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'Ore' is a rock or mineral containing metal that can be extracted; 'oar' is the paddle used to row a boat.
Side-by-side comparison
"Ore" is the rock or mineral from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted. "Iron ore" = the rock from which iron is extracted. Found in mines.
The mine extracts copper ore from a depth of eight hundred metres.
Iron ore is the primary raw material used in the production of steel.
The region sits on enormous deposits of gold ore that remain largely unmined.
"Oar" is the long pole with a flat blade used to row a boat. "Row with the oars" = propel the boat by rowing. Pronounced the same as "or" and "ore".
She pulled on the oar and the boat glided smoothly towards the opposite bank.
One oar snapped in the rough current, leaving them to paddle with the remaining one.
The racing crew moved all eight oars in perfect synchrony.
Common mistake
"They rowed with wooden ores" when meaning the rowing paddles is wrong (correct: oars). "Ore" is the rock from which metal is extracted. They are perfect homophones.
Trick to remember it
- •"Ore" contains "ORE" like "cORE", things inside the earth.
- •"Oar" contains "OAR" like "soar", things that move through open space.
Quick rule
- •Is it the rock from which metal is extracted? "Ore".
- •Is it the paddle used to row? "Oar".
Did you know?
Without it, there would be no skyscrapers, bridges, railways, or modern ships. An OAR is a Class 1 lever: the pivot point (the oarlock on the side of the boat) sits between the effort (the rower's hands) and the load (water resistance). The word ORE comes from Old English "ar," meaning crude metal or bronze.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The miners extracted iron _____ from deep underground.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She used one _____ to steer the small rowing boat around the lake.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy