Gage vs. Gauge
Gage and gauge are yet another example of a pair of homophones. Homophones are words that sound the same (homo=same; phone=sound), but they have different spellings and different meanings. It is important that you understand the differences between a pair of homophones so that you can use them correctly in your writing.
Gauge functions as a noun or a verb, and it has a couple of different meanings. It can refer to a device used to measure, or sometimes to the actual thickness or size of something. It can also be a verb referring to the act of measuring something.
1. The rain gauge had water in it, showing that it rained at least 2 inches in the past week.
2. Do you have a pressure gauge for tires because I think one of mine is a little flat.
3. The runner gauged the distance to the finish line and suddenly quickened his pace, knowing he had enough energy left to make it at a higher speed.
Gage can be an alternate spelling for gauge, although many sources would still consider this to be incorrect. This is because gage has an entirely different meaning in an archaic form. Gage is an archaic word that is not used much today. It can serve as a noun or a verb, and it refers to something deposited as a good faith guarantee or the actual act of offering a good faith guarantee.
1. The knight threw down his sword as a gage showing his willingness to enter into a duel.
2. The businessman pledged a gage, or down payment toward the purchase of the new property.
Again, we don't use the word gage in these ways today, and many people do use gage interchangeably with gauge. As always, consider your audience and gauge their reaction to your use of gage instead of gauge.
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