When you pull a bowstring back, it’s taught. But when the arrow leaves the bow, the string becomes taut. So what’s the difference? Quite simply, tension. Taught is a static term that refers to how much force is applied, while taut means that the object has reached its limit and can no longer withstand any more tension. To put it another way, if you pulled on a taught string hard enough, it would snap; but if you pulled on a taut string with the same amount of force, it would stretch until it broke.
What is Taut?
Taut homonyms are words that have the same spelling as other words but have different meanings, even though they are pronounced differently. Taut is an example of a taut homonym.
Taut can mean “tight” or “not slack.” Taut homonyms can be difficult to spot because they can look like typos. However, if you know what to look for, you can usually tell taut homonyms apart by their context.
For example, if you see the word “taut” in a sentence about a tightrope, you can be pretty sure that it means “not slack.” On the other hand, if you see the word “taut” in a sentence about someone who is tense, it probably means “tight.” Taut homonyms can be confusing, but once you know what to look for, they’re not so bad.
What is Taught?
Taught is both a verb and a homonym. As a verb, it means to educate or train someone. As a homonym, it means past tense of the verb teach. Taught is pronounced the same as the verb tawt. Tawt is not a real word, but it is pronounced the same as taught.
Taught is spelled with an -augh- sound, like in the word caught. Tawt is spelled with an -aw- sound, like in the word saw. Taught can be confused with the word thought, which is also pronounced the same. Thought is the past tense of the verb think.
Taught is often used in phrases such as “I was taught to never give up” or “she taught me everything I know”. Taught can also be used as an adjective, such as in the phrase “taught muscles”. Taught muscles are muscles that have been trained or strengthened through exercise.
Difference between Taut and Taught
Taut and Taught are two words that are often confused due to their similar spelling. However, they have very different meanings. Taut means stretched or pulled tight, while taught means trained or instructed. Taut can be used to describe a physical state, such as a stretched rope or taut muscles. Taught, on the other hand, is mostly used in a figurative sense. For example, you might say that someone has been taught to read or write. In summary, taut refers to a physical state while taught refers to an acquired skill or knowledge.
Conclusion
They are both past tense verbs, but have different meanings. To be taut is to be pulled tight or strained, while to be taught is to learn something from someone else. So a guitar string can be described as being taut, because it has been pulled tight by the musician. And a student can be said to have been taught by their teacher. Hopefully, this explanation has helped clear up any confusion between these two words!
