It's "h" hour! Select the correct "h" words in these sentences:

1) The tortoise beat the hare by a (hairsbreadth, hare's breath).

2) The tortoise's plan to move at a slow and steady pace was derided as a (hairbrained, harebrained) scheme.

3) The film was shot in an old airplane (hanger, hangar).

4) The (hearty, hardy) Arctic explorers received a (hearty, hardy) welcome when they returned.

5) The turncoat was (hung, hanged) for treason.

6) A diet of (healthful, healthy) foods will keep you in good health.

7) The exhibit included (heart-rendering, heart-rending) photos of migrant workers during the Great Depression.

8) Pierre had collected a (hoard, horde) of gold doubloons, which attracted a (hoard, horde) of pirates.

9) The rescuers were finally able to (home, hone) in on the distress signal.

10) The personable salesman was known as a (hale, hail) fellow well met, and he was (hale, hail) and hearty as well.

11) The property tax increase provoked a (hue, hew) and cry among homeowners.

12) (Historical, historic) records show that the Supreme Court issued its (historical, historic) ruling in 1954.

Answers:

1) Hairsbreadth (or hair's breadth or hairbreadth) — a small space or distance, referring to the breadth of a hair.

2) Harebrained — with no more sense than a hare.

3) Hangar — from the French word hangard (shelter).

4) Hardy — in good health, intrepid. Hearty — exuberant, sincere, robust.

5) Hanged — the past tense of hang when referring to an execution.

6) Healthful or healthy — Purists insist on a distinction between healthful, meaning conducive to good health, and healthy, meaning possessing good health. But healthy is now widely used to mean conducive to good health, e.g., a healthy diet.

7) Heart-rending (or heartrending) — causing great distress, as if rending a heart in two.

8) Hoard — a hidden fund or supply, a cache. Horde — a large group or crowd.

9) Home — to focus on an objective. Hone — to sharpen, refine.

10) Hail — This phrase derives from the old-style expression, "Hail, fellow! Well met!" (here "hail" is a salutation). Hale — free from defect, healthy.

11) Hue — cry, uproar. This hue, not to be confused with the different word hue (color), is now obsolete, except for its use in the set phrase "hue and cry." Hew means to cut or chop, or to adhere to a course or path.

12) Historical — relating to, or occurring in, history. Historic — historically significant.

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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