Phase or faze?

Learn the difference today!

Below is a transcript of the video.

Phase with a ‘p-h’ and an ‘s’.

And faze with an ‘f’ and a ‘z’.

Which should you use?

These two words sound the same but they have very different meanings. 

And I see people using the wrong one all the time, so which one should you use and when?

PHASE

Let’s begin with phase spelt ‘p,h,a,s,e’.

Now this is probably the easier of the two to get right, and it can be used as both a noun or thing word, and a verb or doing word.

Phase with an ‘s’ refers to the state of a person or thing at a certain point in time. Let’s take a closer look.

‘The teenage years are an awkward phase in a young person’s life.’ 

In other words the teenage years are a specific time in a young person’s life that are awkward.

Or…

‘We’re at an interesting phase of the experiment.’

In other words we’re at an interesting point in the experiment.

We also refer to the “phases of the moon.” Meaning the different appearances of the moon at different times during the lunar cycle.

So phase spelt ‘p,h,a,s,e’ always has some relationship with time.

This relationship is also true of phase the verb. We most often use this version of phase with the words in and out.

For instance…

“Our current railway timetable will be phased out by 2022 at the same time the new timetable is phased in.”

FAZE

Faze spelt with a ‘z’ means something very different. And it is only ever used as a verb or doing word. 

This faze means to discombobulate, disturb, disconcert, or worry in some way.

For instance:

‘She’s been a mountain climber for many years so heights don’t faze her’.

‘He dropped the tray of glasses because a loud bang from the street had fazed him’.

HOW TO REMEMBER THE DIFFERENCE

So here’s a really easy way to always remember the difference.

The meaning of faze with a ‘z’ is similar to other short words with a ‘z’ like haze and daze – which all refer to a state of stunned confusion as well.

So if you’re talking about someone’s mental state, use faze a ‘z’ like haze, daze. 

Otherwise use phase with a ‘p,h’ and an ‘s’.

For more writing advice, enrol in my online course, Writing With Confidence, available at the Doris and Bertie Writing School.

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