Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Commonly Misused Words: Shudder and Shutter

With hurricane season just around the corner, this next set of commonly misused words is quite appropriate. Even though the words "shutter" and "shudder" have similar pronunciations, they have very different meanings. Let's take a look!

The word "shutter" is generally used as a noun. Think of the shutters you put on your home when a hurricane is predicted to happen. (It can also be used as a verb if you're going to "shutter" something up.) Examples of both uses are below.

Example ("shutter" as a noun): We put metal hurricane shutters up on our windows.
Example ("shutter" as a verb): My neighbors are going to shutter their windows tomorrow.


The word "shudder" can be used as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means a small shake or vibration. As a verb, it means to shake.

Example ("shudder" as a noun): There was a shudder in the car as we drove on the bumpy road.
Example ("shudder" as a verb): Sitting in the very cold room, John shuddered.


Now it's your turn. Pick one of those words and use it correctly in a sentence.

11 comments:

CWillis said...

There's a shudder sound coming from the trunk of my car.

I have a hurricane shutter that has to be replaced before the season arrives.

Anonymous said...

After such a close encounter with a reck-less taxi driver, I shudder to think that I am still alive.
DeidraW

Anonymous said...

Now that the hurricane season is almost here, we have to put up our hurricane shutters.


KByfield

Anonymous said...

We were listen to news and the hurricane was heading to south Florida so we decide to put up the hurricane shutter.

Dorothea M.

Anonymous said...

My dad is going to put up the hurricane shutters on the windows tomorrow.

Angela Richardson

Anonymous said...

In Florida it is always handy to keep a shutter or two in arms reach in case of a storm.


SHENEA WALKER

Anonymous said...

When we remember the haunted house we shudder.

The camera's shutter broke.

Maria C. Torres

Anonymous said...

The store owner shuttered the store for the holidays.

On her flight to Miami the airplane shuddered in the turbulence.

Maria C. Torres

Anonymous said...

When we bought our house it came with top of the line hurricane shutters.

During the storm, my dogs Bear & Tippy, shuddered in fear because the rain, wind, and thunder were so loud.

Lia Muth

Anonymous said...

Yesterday there was a shudder in my native country, Cap-Haitien.

Anonymous said...

-The country of Chile in South America shudders now all the time.
-Shutters can resist the pass of the hurricane.

Roxana Alvarez

March 23, 2010