Difference between coarse and course

This is part of the difference between series.

Recently, someone asked me to explain difference between the words coarse and course. Here’s the difference between the two.

Coarse

Coarse is an adjective that means rough or abrasive.

  • Have you felt how coarse 60 grit sandpaper is?
  • I slept poorly last night; that blanket you gave me was so coarse.

Course

Course, on the other hand, is a noun that has several meanings.

  • They had an 8-course meal at that fancy banquet.
  • Captain, we have diverted twelve degrees off course.
  • Have you taken that advanced biology course yet?

Course can also be a verb, meaning to move unobstructed:

  • The river coursed through the valley.

Which words do you confuse? Let me know in the comments below.

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By Kim Siever

I am a copywriter and copyeditor. I blog on writing and social media tips mostly, but I sometimes throw in my thoughts about running a small business. Follow me on Twitter at @hotpepper.