Gems of My Crown ~ Bear vs. Bare

Whew! Now this is one that will have a whole scene sounding crazy if you get it wrong.

Let’s go ahead and clear this up, especially for my romance and urban fiction writers, because baby… context matters.

Bear

The word bear is most commonly used as a verb, and it means to carry, endure, or tolerate something. It can also refer to the large animal, but I promise you—that’s usually not what you mean in your manuscript.

Example:
She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.

Another example:
He had to bear the weight of his decisions.

Bare

The word bare, on the other hand, means uncovered, exposed, or stripped down. This is the word you want when you’re talking about skin, vulnerability, or anything being revealed.

Example:
She stood before him, completely bare.

Another example:
He ran his hand along her bare thigh.

The Difference

Let me make this real simple:

If your character is taking something off, they’re getting bare.
If your character is putting up with something, they’re having to bear it.

And please… I’m begging you…

If she’s undressing, she is not turning into a damn bear.

These two words may sound the same, but their meanings are completely different, and using the wrong one can turn a serious (or very intimate) moment into something unintentionally hilarious.

They should not be used interchangeably.