ESEN
Which one to use?Intermediateadjectivenoun
VainvsVane
'Vain' means conceited or unsuccessful (in vain); 'vane' is a weather vane that shows wind direction.
Side-by-side comparison
Vain
adjective"Vain" describes someone excessively proud of their appearance or achievements. Also "in vain" = without success. "It was all in vain" = all the effort produced no result.
She spent hours in front of the mirror, everyone said she was vain.
They tried in vain to reach an agreement before the deadline.
It was all in vain, the client had already signed with a competitor.
Vane
noun"Vane" is a weather vane: the rotating device that indicates wind direction. Also the blades of a propeller or turbine. "Weather vane" = an instrument showing which way the wind blows.
The weather vane on top of the barn spun wildly in the storm.
Turbine vanes must be replaced regularly to maintain efficiency.
The old church had a rooster-shaped vane on its steeple.
Common mistake
- •"All our work was vane" when meaning useless or unsuccessful is wrong (correct: in vain).
- •And "He is so vane about his looks" when meaning conceited is wrong (correct: vain).
- •"Vane" is only the wind direction device or turbine blade.
Trick to remember it
- •"Vain" contains AI like the letter I (ego).
- •Vain people are obsessed with themselves (the I).
- •"Vane" rhymes with "plane" and "lane", things that move or indicate direction.
Quick rule
Is it conceited or unsuccessful (in vain)? "Vain." Is it the wind direction device or turbine blade? "Vane."
Did you know?
Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" (1972) was one of pop music's greatest mysteries for decades. The identity of the song's subject was kept secret for more than 30 years. Carly Simon finally revealed in 2003 that the second verse is about Warren Beatty. The words VAIN and VANITY share the same Latin root "vanus" (empty, without substance), vanity was originally obsession with something hollow and insignificant. The same root gives us "evanescent" (fading away) and the name "Vanessa," which may derive from "vanus" or have Greek roots.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She spent hours in front of the mirror. Everyone said she was too _____ .
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
A weather _____ on the roof tells you which direction the wind is blowing.
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