• 2-minute read
  • 14th August 2014

Word Choice: Horde vs. Hoard

The words ‘horde’ and ‘hoard’ sound identical, but they have different spellings and meanings. One can be used as either a verb or a noun, while the other is only used in specific circumstances. Make sure that you use the correct terms in your written work.

Horde

The word ‘horde’ is a noun used to describe a group of nomadic warriors, particularly tribes from the Asian continent.

More commonly, ‘horde’ is used in a slightly derogatory way to describe large numbers or crowds of people:

A horde of schoolchildren piled onto the bus.

‘Horde’ is also used metaphorically to describe a pack or swarm of animals, as in ‘a horde of mosquitoes’. It is not, however, to be confused with the word ‘herd’, which is used to describe a group of hoofed mammals.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

Hoard

The word ‘hoard’ is a noun meaning a ‘stash’ or ‘supply’ which is kept in preparation for future use. It would be used in a sentence like this:

He kept his hoard of tinned goods in the cellar.

It can also be used as a verb meaning ‘accumulate over time’. ‘Hoarding’ is even defined as a psychological condition when it involves collecting something compulsively, so and the term can be found in medical dictionaries.

If you would like more guidance about your writing or to have your essay checked, get in touch with the professionals at Proofread My Essay today!

Comments (0)




Get help from a language expert.

Try our proofreading services for free.

More Writing Tips?
Trusted by thousands of leading
institutions and businesses

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.