Choose or Choice?

by Craig Shrives
The Quick Answer
What is the difference between choose and choice?

To choose is a verb that means to decide between two or more options.

Choice is a noun meaning option, alternative, or possibility. It can also describe the act of choosing.
Got it? Take a quick test.

Choose and Choice

Occasionally, there is confusion over the words choose and choice (especially among non-English speakers).

Choose

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

Examples:
  • We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.
  • Feminism is the ability to choose what you want to do.

Choice

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

Examples:
  • Happiness is a choice that requires effort sometimes.
  • I demolish my bridges behind me so there is no choice but forward.
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

Help Us To Improve Grammar Monster

  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.

See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? cannot or can not? who's or whose? What are adjectives? What are nouns? List of easily confused words