Versus

“Lend” vs. “Loan”

Verbs, Versus

I sometimes hear discussions about whether “loan” is a verb.

Problem:
“Loan” in American English is a verb, but it has a specific meaning.

Explanation:
British English tends to avoid using “loan” as a verb, and British critics many years ago identified the use of “loan” as a verb as an Americanism.

Even though this website focuses on American English and not British English, there is a distinction to be made between “loan” and “lend” as verbs.

Some Americans use the verb “loan” as if it were completely synonymous with the verb “lend”, but this is a mistake.

The verb “loan” specifically means to make a loan of, and the noun “loan” specifically applies to physical transactions.

So it is correct in American English to ask “Can you loan him your car?”, although I prefer “Can you lend him your car?”

But it is incorrect in both British English and American English to say, “The colors loan the painting a sense of lightness.”

Solution:
If your audience is British, then never use “loan” as a verb. If your audience is American, then use “loan” as a verb only when referring to the lending of goods or money but never when referring to figurative transactions. The simplest solution is to avoid all use of “loan” as a verb.

“Kind” vs. “Type”

Nouns, Versus

I sometimes hear a distinction made between these two nouns.

Problem:
These two nouns are not quite synonyms.

Explanation:
The primary definition of the noun “kind” is group or class of people, animals, or objects with the same character or nature, or identified together together because they have common traits.

The noun “kind” dates back to before 900, when it meant origin, race, or nature.

The primary definition of the noun “type” is a number of people or objects that share one or more characteristics, thereby causing them to be considered to be a group.

The noun “type” dates back to the mid-1400s, when it meant symbol or figure.

Solution:
Prefer “kind” when referring to people. Otherwise, use “kind” and “type” interchangeably.

“Farther” vs. “Further”

Adjectives, Adverbs, Versus

I often hear these two words used interchangeably.

Problem:
These two words, whether as adjectives or as adverbs, are not quite synonyms.

Explanation:
Although it is true that “farther” and “further” have been used interchangeably for years, grammarians today increasingly consider these two words to have a physical-versus-metaphorical distinction.

As an adjective, the primary meaning of the word “farther” is more remote or distant than some place or something closer.

An example of the use of “farther” as an adjective is “The truck is on the farther side of the warehouse.”

As an adverb, the primary meaning of the word “farther” is to or at a great distance.

An example of the use of “farther” as an adverb is “Chuck Yeager flew farther toward outer space than did any of his contemporaries.”

As an adjective, the primary non-“farther” meaning of the word “further” is more extended.

An example of the use of “further” as an adjective is “Any further delay in our flight home would mean that we would not be home for Christmas.”

As an adverb, the primary non-“farther” meaning of the word “further” is to or at a more advanced point.

An example of the use of “further” as an adverb is “I may not go further with my studies until I pass that exam.”

Solution:
Use “farther” only for physical distance; prefer “further” for metaphorical distance (in space or time).