Tear and tare are different English words with different meanings, even though they sound the same in some pronunciations. Tear usually means to rip something or refers to a drop of liquid from the eye, while tare means the weight of an empty container or the process of resetting a weighing scale to zero.
People often confuse these words because they are homophones in many accents and have similar spellings. This guide explains their meanings, origins, correct usage, British and American English differences, common mistakes, everyday examples, and when each word should be used.
Quick Answer
Tear is the correct word when talking about ripping something or a drop from the eye.
Tare is the correct word when talking about the weight of an empty container or resetting a digital scale.
Correct Examples
- Be careful not to tear the paper.
- A tear rolled down her cheek.
- Press the tare button before weighing the flour.
- The box has a tare weight of 500 grams.
Incorrect Examples
- Press the tear button on the scale. ❌
- She wiped away a tare from her eye. ❌
The Origin of Tear or Tare
The word tear has two different origins. As a verb meaning to rip, it comes from Old English teran, meaning “to pull apart.” As a noun meaning a drop from the eye, it comes from Old English tēar.
The word tare comes from Middle English and Old French. It entered English through trade and commerce, where it referred to the weight of packaging that should not be counted when weighing goods. Today, it is also used for the button on digital kitchen and laboratory scales that resets the displayed weight to zero.
The spelling differences exist because the words developed from different historical sources even though they sound alike in many varieties of English.
British English vs American English Spelling
There is no spelling difference between British English and American English for tear or tare. Both countries use the same spellings and meanings.
| English Version | Ripping or Eye | Scale Weight |
|---|---|---|
| British English | Tear | Tare |
| American English | Tear | Tare |
| Canadian English | Tear | Tare |
| Australian English | Tear | Tare |
Examples
British English
- Don’t tear the envelope.
- Press the tare button before weighing the ingredients.
American English
- Don’t tear the envelope.
- Press the tare button before weighing the ingredients.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Choose tear when talking about:
- Ripping paper or fabric
- Damage caused by pulling
- A drop from the eye
- Crying
Choose tare when talking about:
- Digital scales
- Kitchen weighing
- Shipping and packaging
- The empty weight of a container
This rule is the same in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking countries.
Common Mistakes with Tear or Tare
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Press the tear button. | Press the tare button. |
| A tare fell from her eye. | A tear fell from her eye. |
| The paper began to tare. | The paper began to tear. |
| The tear weight is 200 g. | The tare weight is 200 g. |
Why People Confuse These Words
- They sound alike in many accents.
- Their spellings differ by only one letter.
- Many people rarely see tare unless they use weighing scales.
- Spell-checkers may not catch the mistake because both are real words.
Tear or Tare in Everyday Examples
In Emails
- Please do not tear the documents.
- Remember to press tare before weighing the samples.
In News
- Heavy winds could tear roofs from buildings.
- Shops must subtract the tare weight when selling packaged goods.
On Social Media
- I almost tore my favourite book today.
- Don’t forget to hit tare before measuring coffee beans.
In Formal Writing
- The inspection found a small tear in the material.
- The technician recorded the tare weight before testing.
Tear or Tare – Google Trends & Usage Data
Search interest for tear is much higher than tare because tear has several common meanings, including ripping and crying. People often search for its pronunciation because tear can sound different depending on its meaning.
Searches for tare mainly come from people using kitchen scales, postal services, laboratories, shipping companies, and manufacturing businesses.
Popular search terms include:
- tear meaning
- tear or tare
- tare meaning
- tare weight
- tear pronunciation
- tare button
- tear vs tare
Interest in these searches is strongest in English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Tear | Tare |
|---|---|---|
| Correct word | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Main meaning | Rip or drop from the eye | Empty container weight |
| Used in everyday speech | Very common | Less common |
| Used with weighing scales | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Used for crying | ✔ Yes | ✘ No |
| Used for ripping | ✔ Yes | ✘ No |
FAQs
Is it tear or tare on a kitchen scale?
Use tare. It resets the scale to zero.
What does tear mean?
It means to rip something or a drop of liquid from the eye.
What is tare weight?
Tare weight is the weight of an empty container before adding its contents.
Why do people confuse tear and tare?
They sound the same in many accents but have different meanings.
Are tear and tare spelled differently in British English?
No. Both British and American English use the same spellings.
Can tear be a noun and a verb?
Yes. It can mean a drop from the eye or the act of ripping something.
Is tare a common English word?
Yes, but it is mostly used in weighing, shipping, cooking, and scientific settings.
Conclusion
The correct word depends on what you want to say. Tear refers to ripping something or a drop from the eye, while tare refers to the weight of an empty container or the scale function that removes that weight. Remember this simple rule: if you are talking about weighing, use tare; if you are talking about ripping or crying, use tear.
Keeping their meanings separate will help you write more clearly and avoid mistakes. If you found this guide useful, read our related post on bear with me or bare with me to learn another commonly confused pair.
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