ESEN
Which one to use?Beginnerverbnoun / adjective
StealvsSteel
'Steal' means to take something without permission; 'steel' is the strong metal alloy.
Side-by-side comparison
Steal
verb"Steal" is the verb to take something belonging to someone else without permission. "Steal a glance" = look quickly and secretly. Past tense: "stole". Past participle: "stolen".
Someone tried to steal her bag on the subway.
He was caught trying to steal confidential files.
Don't steal credit for your colleagues' work.
Steel
noun / adjective"Steel" is the strong alloy of iron and carbon. "Steel nerves" = very steady nerves. "Stainless steel" = the corrosion-resistant alloy used in cutlery and appliances.
The bridge is built from reinforced steel and concrete.
She had nerves of steel during the negotiation.
Stainless steel cutlery does not rust easily.
Common mistake
- •"He tried to steel my phone" when talking about theft is wrong (correct: steal).
- •And "A steal beam" when talking about the metal is wrong (correct: steel beam).
Trick to remember it
- •"Steal" has A, like "take away" (when you steal something, you take it away).
- •"Steel" has double E for extra-extra strong, the metal is doubly tough.
Quick rule
Is it the act of taking without permission? "Steal." Is it the hard, strong metal? "Steel."
Did you know?
The 19th-century Industrial Revolution was largely powered by steel. The Bessemer process (1856), invented by Henry Bessemer, allowed high-quality steel to be produced in large quantities at low cost for the first time in history, making it possible to build railways, steamships, and skyscrapers on a massive scale. Before the Bessemer process, steel was so expensive it was used mainly for blades and precision tools. The expression "nerves of steel" perfectly captures the properties of the metal: resistant, undeformed under pressure, reliable in extreme situations.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The bridge was built from reinforced _____ . It can hold ten thousand tonnes.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Someone tried to _____ her bag at the market but she held on tight.
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