Use word for the basic units people spell, pronounce, sign, read, define, translate, and combine into phrases or sentences. In linguistics, the exact boundary of a word can be complicated, but everyday use is usually clear.
Use word for the basic units people spell, pronounce, sign, read, define, translate, and combine into phrases or sentences. In linguistics, the exact boundary of a word can be complicated, but everyday use is usually clear.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She knows many English word. | She knows many English words. |
| This word has five words. | This word has five letters. |
| I learned a new vocabulary. | I learned a new word. |
| How many word are in the sentence? | How many words are in the sentence? |
Use word in phrases like a word of advice, have a word, in your own words, and put something into words. The plural words often means what someone actually said or wrote.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Can I have word with you? | Can I have a word with you? |
| Say it with your words. | Say it in your own words. |
| His word were kind. | His words were kind. |
| I cannot put it in word. | I cannot put it into words. |
Use word in common phrases such as any word on..., send word, word got out, and word has it. It is often uncountable in this sense.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Did you get a word from them? | Did you get word from them? |
| Any words on the results? | Any word on the results? |
| The word got out were false. | The word that got out was false. |
| She sent a word that she was safe. | She sent word that she was safe. |
Use word in fixed phrases such as give your word, keep your word, break your word, and my word is my bond. It is personal and serious, but not necessarily legal.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| He gave word to return. | He gave his word to return. |
| She kept the word. | She kept her word. |
| I promise my word. | I give you my word. |
| They broke their words. | They broke their word. |
Use word in phrases like give the word, say the word, and wait for the word when one signal or decision starts an action.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Wait for word to start. | Wait for the word to start. |
| Give me word and I will go. | Give me the word and I will go. |
| Say word when you are ready. | Say the word when you are ready. |
| The coach gave a word begin. | The coach gave the word to begin. |
Use word as a verb when the focus is on careful phrasing, tone, politeness, or exact expression. It is often used in passive or participle forms, as in carefully worded.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| How should I word to him? | How should I word the message to him? |
| The email was word carefully. | The email was worded carefully. |
| She wording the apology. | She is wording the apology. |
| Can you word this more polite? | Can you word this more politely? |
Use word in computing when talking about processor architecture, memory, machine instructions, or low-level data size. Its exact size depends on the system, so specify 16-bit word, 32-bit word, or 64-bit word when needed.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The CPU reads one English word. | The CPU reads one machine word. |
| A word is always 8 bits. | A byte is often 8 bits. |
| The processor has 64 word. | The processor has a 64-bit word size. |
| Store the word sentence in memory. | Store the machine word in memory. |
Use word as an interjection only in informal speech, messages, or dialogue. It can sound dated, playful, or tied to hip-hop-influenced style, so avoid it in formal writing.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Word, I agree with the proposal in this report. | I agree with the proposal in this report. |
| That is very word. | That is very true. |
| Word you are right. | Word. You are right. |
| She said a word when she agreed. | She said, "Word," when she agreed. |
Word is extremely broad, so let the phrase around it guide the meaning. A word often means one vocabulary item or a brief remark, word without an article can mean news, one's word means a promise, and worded points to phrasing.
I learned a new vocabulary should be I learned a new word. Word and words also change meaning in common phrases, so get word, give your word, and give the word are not interchangeable.
From Old English word, meaning word, speech, or statement, from a Germanic source also seen in Old High German wort. It is related farther back to Latin verbum, meaning word, and to Greek forms connected with saying or speaking. The verb developed from the noun and means to put an idea into words.
What does word mean?
Word can mean a unit of language, a remark, news, a promise, an order, a technical computer unit, or the act of phrasing something as a verb.
Is word a noun or a verb?
Word is both. As a noun, it names a language unit or several related ideas. As a verb, it means to express something in a particular way.
What is the plural of word?
The plural is words.
What does have a word mean?
Have a word means have a short conversation, often private or serious.
What does give your word mean?
Give your word means make a promise or personal assurance.
What does any word on it mean?
It means any news or information about it.
What does worded mean?
Worded means expressed in a particular choice of words, as in a carefully worded reply.
What does word mean in computing?
In computing, a word is a fixed-size unit of data handled by a processor. Its size depends on the system.