It bears repeating that the English language is full of odd sayings. What's the difference between bares vs bears? Never fear, we’re here to break them down. 

It Bears Repeating: Is It Bears or Bares?

Grammar Collectibles

Whether I'm proofreading short stories, full manuscripts, or a billboard on the highway, I've always been a grammar nerd. (I edit the billboards on the highway in my head. I'm fun on road trips.)

As a professional editor, I think finding and fixing grammar mistakes is as enjoyable as gathering hidden gems.

Today I'd like to explain a saying that most people have heard before, but don't always know how to use correctly.

No Bears Here

What do you think of when you hear the word “bear”? I’m guessing you imagine something like this:

While it's true that one definition of bear is a noun, and specifically a large furry animal (polar bears, black bears, brown bears, oh my!), there are no toothy mammals in “it bears repeating.” The word “bear” has a range of meanings beyond an actual bear.

In our idiom “it bears repeating,” it’s a verb: “to bear” means “to be worthy of.” “It bears repeating,” then, means “it’s worth repeating.”

Bear can also mean to carry or support, and also to endure. 

Remember, it’s “bear,” not “bare.”

Bares vs bears

We've talked about the different meanings of “bear,” but now let's turn to the word “bares.”

“To bare” as a verb form means “to uncover.” It can also be used as an adjective though to mean “exposed” or “without covering.” When you have bare arms, it means you don't have sleeves or a jacket covering them. If a room is bare, it doesn't have any expected furnishings.

It can also be used a bit more ominously when used with teeth, “The vampire bared his fangs before descending.” In this case, the word bared means he showed his teeth, they are uncovered (and likely ready to bite you!).

So when you're trying to decide whether to use bares vs bears, think about what you're trying to describe. If you're trying to show something is uncovered? You want bares

If you're needing a word to show an animal or to describe something being carried or endured? Then you want bears.

It Bears Repeating

So back to our idiom of the day: it bears repeating. What does this look like out in the wild? Let’s use it in a sentence:

“Wow, Sam did such a great job on his science project!” said Sam’s aunt.

“He did! But it bears repeating that he didn’t do it alone—Marianne and Jack were a huge help,” said his mom.

Sam’s aunt is excited about how well he did on his science project. His mom is, too. But she uses “it bears repeating” to remind his aunt of something she already knows: Sam had great people helping him.

It’s Worth Remembering

You probably don’t hear “it bears repeating” every day. It’s a bit of a formal turn of phrase, and “it’s worth repeating” works just as well.

You could even go more casual with “like I said,” or borderline rude with “I already told you.”

Still, it’s worth remembering the meaning (and spelling!) of the phrase. Perhaps this image of bears will help it stick in your mind:

Do you use “it bears repeating”? What other odd turns of phrase trip you up? Let us know in the comments.

Need more grammar help? My favorite tool that helps find grammar problems and even generates reports to help improve my writing is ProWritingAid. Works with Word, Scrivener, Google Docs, and web browsers. Also, be sure to use my coupon code to get 20 percent off: WritePractice20

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PRACTICE

Take fifteen minutes to write a scene using the phrase “it bears repeating” as many times as possible. Bonus points if your characters are bears!

When you’re done, share your writing in the Pro Practice Workshop. It bears repeating that the best way to grow as a writer is through giving and receiving feedback, so be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers!

Alice Sudlow is the Editor-in-Chief of The Write Practice and a Story Grid certified developmental editor. Her specialty is in crafting transformative character arcs in young adult novels. She also has a keen eye for comma splices, misplaced hyphens, and well-turned sentences, and is known for her eagle-eyed copywriter skills. Get her free guide to how to edit your novel at alicesudlow.com.

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