Choose, Choice, or Chose?

by Craig Shrives

The Difference between Choose, Choice, and Chose

"Choose," "choice," and "chose" are easy to confuse because their spellings are similar and English is so inconsistent with how vowels are pronounced.
  • "Choose" (which rhymes with "blues") means to decide between two or more options. For example:
    • Choose tea or coffee. correct tick
  • "Chose" (which rhymes with "froze") is the past tense of "to choose." For example:
    • I chose a different path to you. correct tick
  • "Choice" (which rhymes with "voice") means an option, an alternative, or a possibility. It can also describe the act of choosing. For example:
    • That was a fine choice, sir. correct tick
choose, choice, or chose?

More about "Choose," "Chose," and "Choice"

Occasionally, there is confusion over the words "choose," "chose," and "choice" (especially among non-English speakers). Click below to hear how each word is pronounced:

Choose

The word "choose" is a verb that means "to select from a number of possibilities."

Example sentence with "choose":
  • We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them. correct tick
  • Feminism is the ability to choose what you want to do. correct tick

Chose

The word "chose" is the past tense of "to choose."

Example sentence with "chose":
  • Americans chose a limited government that exists to protect our rights, not to grant them. correct tick (Politician Marco Rubio)
  • I was told I wasn't good enough, but I chose not to listen. correct tick (Singer-songwriter Khalid)
The past participle of "to choose" is "chosen."
  • If the career you have chosen has some unexpected inconvenience, console yourself by reflecting that no career is without them. correct tick (Actress Jane Fonda)

Choice

The word "choice" is a noun. A "choice" is the right, power, or opportunity to choose.

Example sentence with "choice":
  • Happiness is a choice that requires effort sometimes. correct tick
  • I demolish my bridges behind me so there is no choice but forward. correct tick

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