Broach vs. Brooch – How to Use Each Correctly

/ October 14, 2019/ Usage

What’s the Difference Between Broach and Brooch?

Broach and brooch can be homophones. Because brooch has two alternate pronunciations, it can either sound exactly like broach or slightly different. However, despite the similar pronunciation, these two words have no overlap in meaning.

Broach can act as either a noun or a verb and it has several different definitions. The most common use of this word is as a verb that means to mention a topic for the first time in a conversation.

• She just got out of jail, so the whole family was careful not to broach the subject in case it upset her.

Brooch is a noun that means a decorative accessory that people pin to their clothes and hold on with a clasp.

• My grandmother always wears a sparkly brooch on her blouse.

Let’s look at some of the ways to use each of these words in English.

Using Broach in a Sentence

When to use broach: As a noun, broach can mean a piece of machinery for making holes, a rod for roasting meat, or an object to tap a cask. As a verb it can act as the action for the nouns mentioned before, as well as to talk about or suggest something for the first time.

For example,

• We’ll need a broach to punch the keyhole shapes in each of those pieces of metal. (noun)
• Don’t broach any topics related to politics at the party because that subject could get contentious quickly. (verb)

When used as a verb meaning to mention for the first time, the most common collocates include broach a topic and broach a subject.

Using Brooch in a Sentence

When to use brooch: A brooch is a type of jewelry that people fasten to their clothing, usually a blouse or jacket.

For example:

• The fashion of brooches changed frequently over time which means they serve as a good indicator of the time period for archaeologists.
• My daughter’s kindergarten teacher has a different brooch for each holiday.

Broach was once actually an alternate spelling for brooch, but the two words have had separate spellings since the 1600’s. The word comes from Old French and originally meant long needle.

Remembering Broach vs. Brooch

You can use the spelling of these two words as a mnemonic device to remember which one is which.

The best way to remember is to use the spelling of broach. Broach uses the same last four letters as approach. Since the main definition of broach is to approach a subject in conversation, the two words are connected.

An alternative that is more of a stretch is that mooch and brooch also share the same last four letters. Because mooch means to ask for something without paying for it, it is conceivable that a friend of yours could ask to borrow your brooch, or in other words, mooch your brooch. Also, some brooches are in the form of a pooch (dog) or other animal.

Outside Examples

• Many of us, though, each day have a chance to choose — how gently we will approach our loved ones, whether we’ll broach a painful topic we’ve too long papered over. –Chicago Tribune
• However, Oriano Skylar Mastro, a Georgetown University professor, said her Chinese contacts indicated willingness to broach North Korea contingencies in the military dialogue. –New York Daily News
• A piece of jewelry bought at a garage sale for $8 is set to sell for $30,000 after it turned out to be a diamond, emerald and ruby brooch. –New York Post
• “What you think doesn’t exist anymore, you can find it here,” Mr. Carli said, caressing a pair of brooches — delicate bouquets rendered in a large handful of rose-cut diamonds, crafted by a Carli in the early 1700s. “Seeing these beautiful things, that’s what keeps me working.” –New York Times

Quiz: Broach vs. Brooch

1. We need a _____________ if we are going to cook this meat for the barbecue.
2. I want to ask my brother who he is dating, but he is so sensitive about his love life that I’m scared to ____________ the topic.
3. I don’t like to wear most types of jewelry because it irritates my skin, but I wear _____________ all the time because it only touches my clothes.

See answers below.

Article Summary

Should I use broach or brooch? These two words can either sound the same or very similar. Despite that, there hasn’t been any overlap in their meaning for over four hundred years.

• Broach can mean multiple things regarding making a hole in something, such as a tool for punching holes in metal, a rod to impale meat for cooking, or a tool to tap a cask. Most commonly it means approach or mention in the context of speaking about a certain topic.
• Brooch is a decorative pin that people put on their clothes.

Using the context above can help ensure you always remember to the difference between these two words.

Answers

1. broach
2. broach
3. brooches