Hello everyone!

I’m back with another word pair. Today’s confusing duo is wreck and wreak, which are undeniably easy to mix up due to the fact that they are spelled so similarly and mean almost exactly the same thing. Although wreck can also be a noun, both wreck and wreak are verbs indicating destruction. There is a subtle difference between the two in that wreck means to damage while wreak means to cause damage, but they effectively suggest the same outcome.

So, you must be wondering, what is the difference? The difference is that wreck stands on its own, while wreak is immediately followed by a noun (most often havoc). We can say The storm wrecked the ship but not The storm wreaked the ship. If we want to use wreak, we have to say The storm wreaked havoc on the ship. Likewise, it doesn’t work to say The storm wrecked havoc on the ship. The other difference, of course, is in pronunciation: Wreak is pronounced like reek, while wreck is pronounced like rec (as in the first part of recreation).

It’s just one letter, and a very subtle distinction in meaning, but choosing the proper word can make a world of difference in your writing!

Until next time!