Course or Coarse?

Course or Coarse?

• This sand is too coarse for the cement mix.
• There are children present. Stop being so coarse!

• A series of educational lessons. For example:
• I have signed up for an online French course.
• Part of a meal. For example:
• I can't eat nuts, so I will skip the third course.
• A direction. For example:
• That's an odd course to take.
There are more meanings for "course" below.
Got it? Take a quick test.

The word "course" is far more common than "coarse." This flow diagram checks that you don't need "coarse" before advising you to use "course."

More about "Coarse" and "Course"

The words "coarse" and "course" sound identical, but their meanings are very different. The most common query regarding "course" and "coarse" relates to meals. Meals are made up of courses not coarses. For example:
• a three-course meal

Click on the Two Correct Sentences
(Interactive Game)

Getting ready...
Getting ready...
Getting ready...
Getting ready...
Getting ready...
Getting ready...
Getting ready...
Getting ready...
Getting ready...
Getting ready...


Coarse

The adjective "coarse" means rough, crude, of low quality, or not fine in texture. For example:


• The sand is coarse.
(The sand is not fine, i.e., gritty.)
• She has coarse manners.
(Her manners are crude or rough.)
• These are coarse fish.
(This refers to freshwater fish like perch. If it helps, think of them as not as refined as trout or salmon, which are classified as game fish.)

Top Tip

Arse Is Coarse

The British word "arse" is quite vulgar. In fact, it is coarse. Let it remind you of the meaning for coarse. arse ass

Course

The word "course" has many meanings. It can be an adjective, a noun, or a verb. Listed below are the meanings of "course":

Education delivered in a series of lessons
• I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia. (Actor Woody Allen)
• English course
Also, the students who attend
• You have been an excellent course.
A direction
• A southerly course
• The river changed course.
A series of events
• The government took an unexpected course.
• A course of action
To move (of liquids and ships)
• The German ships coursed the Baltic.
• The stream coursed through the peat bog.
Part of a meal
• We're having a three-course meal. The first course is white bait or mussels.
To hunt with dogs
• To course after hares.
Naturally
• of course
Area of land (or water) for sport
• Golf course
• Skiing course

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.