Awe, Oar, Or, and Ore

search our site by Craig Shrives

Awe, Oar, Or, and Ore

What are the differences between "awe," "oar," "or," and "ore"?

• "Awe" means astonishment. For example:
• The crowd were in awe of your performance.
(The word "awe" often appears in the phrase "in awe.")
• "Or" is a conjunction used to offer an alternative. For example:
• Would you like tea or coffee?
• "Oar" is a tool used to propel a boat through water. For example:
• Pull harder on the right oar.
• "Ore" is a mineral from which metal can be extracted. For example:
• Copper ore is mine in Afghanistan.

Awe, Or, Oar, and Ore

"Awe," "or," "oar," and "ore" sound similar, but their meanings are very different.

Awe

The noun "awe" means wonderment, astonishment, or dread. (The word "awe" can also be used as a verb.)

Examples:

• The employee was stuck with awe when his boss fired him.
• He was filled with awe after seeing the breath-taking views of the Grand Canyon.
• The students were awed by their new professor.
(This is an example of "awe" being used as a verb.)

Or

The conjunction "or" is used to offer an alternative or a replacement.

Examples:

• Would you like cake or ice cream?
• Complete your homework on time, or you'll fail the class.

Oar

The noun "oar" is a tool used to move a boat through water.

Examples:

• Most Viking ships were powered by oars.
• Warships had several oarsmen per oar because they were so long.

Ore

The noun "ore" is used to describe a mineral from which metal can be extracted.

Examples:

• In 2005, China was the top importer of ores and metals ahead of the USA and Japan.
• It is only worth extracting the ore if the metal is in a high enough concentration.

Remembering "Awe"

The word "awe" is the root of the word "awesome." Remembering "Oar"
The word "oar" has the same vowels as the word "boat."

Ready for the Test?