Chosing or choosing – which one is correct? What is the difference?
Have you ever wondered whether to use chosing or choosing? If you have, you’re definitely not alone, since there are a few facts surrounding this word and its forms that might be confusing. Which is the incorrect spelling? How to check if I chose correctly? But fret not and look no further, we have all the answers right here!
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Chosing or choosing – which form of the verb is correct?
There’s only one right choice here, and it’s choosing. Why? Because in order to create the gerund form of any verb, we need simply to add the -ing ending to the most basic form of the word, also called the infinitive. In this case, the infinitive of the verb meaning ‘to select from among alternatives’ is choose.
Chosing or choosing – why not chosing?
As we discussed above, forming the gerund of any verb is fairly straightforward, but there is more to consider when it comes to simple past tense forms. Choose is an irregular verb, which means that we probably won’t get away with putting an -ed at the end of it to indicate the past tense form
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It seems that the incorrect form chosing is connected with this phenomenon, because chose is the past form of choose, and the two words look quite similar. However, that one letter makes a world of a difference – it changes both the pronunciation and the tense of the verb. Chose is not the infinitive, and therefore it can never be used with the -ing ending.
To finally clarify the last question, the third-person singular present tense form of choose (i.e. he/she/it) is ‘chooses’.
Chosing or choosing? It’s all clear! Examples from literature and press
In books a good choice is choosing to go fight the dragon.
Anne Ursu, Breadcrumbs, 2011
I’m gonna be a politician. You always knew that. I’m starting as soon as I graduate… in a month. This is how my life is gonna be, okay? I’m choosing it.
Casey McQuiston, Red, White & Royal Blue, 2019
The shuffle function of iPods acquired their own kind of cult following, the device choosing songs at random.
“Salon”, May 11, 2022
