Writing for Business - A Whatis.com Blog

Sep 28 2009   2:41PM GMT

Take a different tact — or tack?



Posted by: Ivy Wigmore
Business writing, CIO, commonly confused words, commonly misused expressions, grammar, homophones, Quiz, tact / tack

Which is correct?
When we learned that our relaxed approach to VoIP security made us more vulnerable to corporate espionage, we decided it was time to take a different ____.
a. tack
b. tact


Answer: a

Explanation:
Tack, in this context, is synonymous with approach. It comes from sailing, where to take another tack means to set a new course.

Denise C. Baron writes about “How mishearing leads to abuse.”

See more in the Eggcorns database.

Follow us on Twitter @tao_of_grammar

Comment on this Post

Leave a comment: