Pain and Pane

Commonly Confused Words

The words pain and pane are homophones: they sound alike but have different meanings, like the homophone pair flair and flare.

The noun pain refers to physical suffering or the feeling of discomfort or distress. As a verb, pain means to cause hurt or distress.

The noun pane means a single piece, panel, or sheet (as of glass).

Examples:

  • Some people have so much trouble coping with the pain of divorce that they turn to drugs or alcohol.
  • George could be extremely annoying at times--a real pain in the neck.
  • The inspector stared at the pile of broken glass lying on the floor beneath the broken pane.

Practice:

(a) Tania sat with her nose pressed against the dirty window _____.

(b) After pitching flawlessly for five innings, Robin felt a sharp _____ in her shoulder.
 

Answers to Practice Exercises

Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words

200 Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs

Answers to Practice Exercises: Pain and Pane

(a) Tania sat with her nose pressed against the dirty window pane.

(b) After pitching flawlessly for five innings, Robin felt a sharp pain in her shoulder.
 

Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words

200 Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs

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Your Citation
Nordquist, Richard. "Pain and Pane." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/pain-and-pane-1689454. Nordquist, Richard. (2021, February 16). Pain and Pane. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/pain-and-pane-1689454 Nordquist, Richard. "Pain and Pane." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/pain-and-pane-1689454 (accessed March 29, 2024).