Is It “Bear” or “Bare”?
The correct spelling of this phrase is always bear with me.
- Please bear with me as I try to explain this complex topic.
Bare with me is an incorrect spelling.
“Bear With Me” Meaning & Spelling
Bear with me is a commonly used English expression that is equivalent to saying “be patient or tolerant with me.” It’s a polite way of asking someone for patience or leeway as you finish a thought or task.
Those who work in the customer service realm may be familiar with this expression, as it’s often used when an issue arises. You’ll notice that the phrase can be used with different nouns.
How To Spell “Bear With Me”
Please be aware that the correct spelling of this expression is bear with me and not bare with me.
“Bear” vs. “Bare”
Many people mistakenly use bare with me instead of bear with me. If you want to avoid making this mistake, you should have a thorough understanding of the difference between bear and bare, which we’ll go over below.
What Does “Bear” Mean?
You’re probably familiar with bear as a noun. It refers to a big, furry animal that can look cute and cuddly, but be strong and ferocious (like honey bears and brown bears).
As a noun, bear can also mean “complicated or difficult to do or deal with.”
As a verb, bear is quite versatile. It has numerous definitions, but is often used meaning “to endure something” or “to hold up, carry, or support something” (either literally or figuratively).
Knowing this, it should make sense why bear with me is the correct spelling of the phrase. Bear is being used as a verb that means “to endure” or “put up with.”
Again, it’s worth reiterating that bear has several uses as a verb. For example, it can mean “give birth to” or “produce naturally,” but also “to hold or carry.”
- Bear in mind that I injured my ankle, so I won’t be able to walk as fast as you.
What Does “Bare” Mean?
Bare, on the other hand, can function as an adjective or verb.
As an adjective, bare also has a few different definitions. It can be used to mean:
- “Uncovered; without clothing; nude”
- “Unadorned; without the usual content or furnishings”
- “Basic and simple”
As a verb, bare means “to uncover, reveal, or expose something to view.”
It’s more common to come across bare as an adjective than a verb.
- She was barely awake when she told me she was hungry.
“Bear” or “Bare”: How To Remember the Difference
Combined, both bear and bare have many different definitions and uses. So, how do you remember them all to avoid using the wrong word? Just look at it like this:
- A bear is an animal with ears. They’re big and strong and as a result, they can endure and carry a lot, just like the word bear itself, which carries several definitions. However, it’ll be very unusual to see a nude or bare bear because they are almost always covered in fur.
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