What is the difference between homework and housework ?
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What’s the difference between homework and housework?
This week we are looking at two words which are commonly confused because of their similar spellings: homework and housework .
Homework is work that school pupils are given to do at home. You say that pupils ‘ do homework ’. You don’t say that they ` make homework ‘.
Have you done your English homework ?
Homework is an uncountable noun.
Housework is work such as cleaning or washing that is done in a house.
She relied on us to do most of the housework .
Housework is an uncountable noun.
Find out more in our English Usage article .
This blogpost is based on Collins COBUILD English Usage , written for learners of English. For more examples of English usage points, please visit: https://grammar.collinsdictionary.com/english-usage .
All opinions expressed on this blog are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company, HarperCollins.
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Confused Words: Homework vs. Housework
Hi learners! Today we’ll delve into an interesting English language topic. We’re going to differentiate between the terms “ Homework ” and “ Housework “. Both words seem similar but have distinct meanings and uses. Let’s go!
“ Homework ” (IPA: /ˈhoʊmˌwɜːrk/) refers to tasks assigned to students by their teachers, intended to be completed outside of class, generally at home.
Here are 10 examples:
- The teacher gave us a lot of homework today. (The teacher assigned many tasks)
- I need to finish my math homework before dinner. (I need to complete my math tasks)
- She is diligent about completing her homework every day. (She is conscientious about doing her school assignments)
- He stayed up late to complete his homework . (He stayed up late to finish his school tasks)
- Can you help me with my English homework ? (Can you help me with my English assignments)
- I have homework over the weekend. (I have school tasks to do over the weekend)
- She forgot her homework at home. (She forgot her school assignments at home)
- He was punished for not doing his homework . (He was punished for not completing his school tasks)
- The homework is due tomorrow. (The school tasks need to be completed by tomorrow)
- Our homework involves researching climate change. (Our school assignment involves researching climate change)
Housework ” (IPA: /ˈhaʊsˌwɜːrk/), on the other hand , refers to the general cleaning or maintenance tasks done in a house or apartment.
- I have a lot of housework to do this weekend. (I have many cleaning or maintenance tasks)
- He helps his mother with the housework . (He assists his mother with home chores)
- She dislikes doing housework . (She dislikes cleaning and maintaining the house)
- Can you help me with the housework ? (Can you help me with the home chores)
- We share the housework equally. (We share the cleaning and maintenance tasks)
- He hired a maid to do the housework . (He hired a maid to perform the home chores)
- Washing dishes is part of my housework . (Washing dishes is one of my home chores)
- She does the housework every Sunday. (She does the home chores every Sunday)
- I finished my housework early today. (I finished my cleaning and maintenance tasks early)
- They believe in sharing housework responsibilities. (They believe in sharing home chores)
The distinction between “ Homework ” and “ Housework ” is now clear. “Homework” refers to school assignments completed outside the class, while “Housework” refers to cleaning or maintenance tasks performed at home. Understanding these differences will help refine your English usage.
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Difference between HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK
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What’s the difference between homework and housework ?
These two words seem practically identical, but they actually have separate meanings and uses. I’ll clarify that in today’s lesson, so that you can be sure to use the right word.
And at the end I’ll also tell you about a common mistake that English learners often make with homework and housework.
How to use HOMEWORK in English
Homework refers to schoolwork that you do at home.
So if you’re in class, your teacher might give you homework – maybe a worksheet, maybe a book/article to read, maybe an exercise to do or something to research – and then you do that homework outside of class, at home.
Homework is usually extra practice or an additional assignment to help you practice what you learned inside class, or take your learning further.
How to use HOUSEWORK in English
Housework refers to the physical tasks that are necessary to take care of your house or apartment , the place where you live. We usually use housework to refer to cooking, cleaning, and laundry (washing your clothes).
So homework is schoolwork you do at home, and housework involves maintaining your living space.
What about “chores”?
One of my students asked if the word chores means the same thing as housework.
Yes – chores is another word we can use for those things that you have to do around the house. Washing dishes, sweeping the floor, cleaning the toilet, and so on. You probably don’t really enjoy them, but they need to get done.
And it’s also common to use this word chores you have a parent who makes their children help with these tasks. So the parent would say, “you have to do your chores.” You need to do those things around the house that you’re responsible for, like cleaning up your room or maybe helping with the laundry.
HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK are always singular!
Now here’s an important detail – the word chore is countable, so you can have one chore, two chores, three chores, or a lot of chores to do.
But homework and housework are BOTH considered uncountable . So we always use them in the singular, always homework and housework, never homeworks or houseworks.
They are singular even when they refer to multiple tasks. So even if you have multiple assignments to do and multiple things to do in your house, it’s still only homework and housework.
You can talk about general quantity by saying a little homework/housework or a lot of homework/housework – but don’t use numbers, like “three homeworks,” and don’t add an S, “a lot of houseworks” – it’s not correct.
WORK / WORKS
This rule also applies to the word “work” – most of the time it’s singular.
Don’t say “I have a lot of works to do.” – the correct way would be “I have a lot of work to do.” You can say tasks, you can say projects, you can say assignments, you can say things – those can all be plural, but work is typically singular.
There’s one situation where we can say “works” and that’s specifically when we’re talking about works of art, works of music, or works of literature. So when we’re talking about productions in the artistic world, then sometimes we use works in the plural. For example, this is one of Picasso’s greatest works of art.
But in everyday life, when talking about the work you have to do, it’s always work, singular and same with homework and housework, singular.
Now you know the difference between homework and housework – and remember, doing homework is really important for reviewing and practicing what you learn!
A lot of our courses at Espresso English include homework. Sometimes that’s a quiz so you can test yourself on the lesson, and sometimes the homework is a writing task or speaking task where you can send your answers to our teaching team and get correction and feedback.
Our students often find this the most valuable part of our courses, because then you’re not just watching or reading or listening to me in English, but you’re also using English yourself. It really makes a difference in helping you learn and remember better.
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Homework vs. housework.
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Jan 18, 2021
What’s the difference between homework and housework ? These two words seem practically identical, but they actually have separate meanings and uses. I’ll explain in today’s lesson, so that you can be sure to use the right word. And at the end I’ll also tell you about a common mistake that English learners often make with homework and housework.
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Homework is something that is usually assigned by a teacher, school or class where you are learning something. • I need to do my Math homework • The teacher assigned a lot of homework to the students Housework refers to the chores or tasks you do at home, for example sweeping the floor, cleaning the bathroom, doing the laundry, washing the dishes
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School Life Balance , Tips for Online Students
The Pros and Cons of Homework
Updated: December 7, 2023
Published: January 23, 2020
Homework is a word that most students dread hearing. After hours upon hours of sitting in class , the last thing we want is more schoolwork over our precious weekends. While it’s known to be a staple of traditional schooling, homework has also become a rather divise topic. Some feel as though homework is a necessary part of school, while others believe that the time could be better invested. Should students have homework? Have a closer look into the arguments on both sides to decide for yourself.
Photo by energepic.com from Pexels
Why should students have homework, 1. homework encourages practice.
Many people believe that one of the positive effects of homework is that it encourages the discipline of practice. While it may be time consuming and boring compared to other activities, repetition is needed to get better at skills. Homework helps make concepts more clear, and gives students more opportunities when starting their career .
2. Homework Gets Parents Involved
Homework can be something that gets parents involved in their children’s lives if the environment is a healthy one. A parent helping their child with homework makes them take part in their academic success, and allows for the parent to keep up with what the child is doing in school. It can also be a chance to connect together.
3. Homework Teaches Time Management
Homework is much more than just completing the assigned tasks. Homework can develop time management skills , forcing students to plan their time and make sure that all of their homework assignments are done on time. By learning to manage their time, students also practice their problem-solving skills and independent thinking. One of the positive effects of homework is that it forces decision making and compromises to be made.
4. Homework Opens A Bridge Of Communication
Homework creates a connection between the student, the teacher, the school, and the parents. It allows everyone to get to know each other better, and parents can see where their children are struggling. In the same sense, parents can also see where their children are excelling. Homework in turn can allow for a better, more targeted educational plan for the student.
5. Homework Allows For More Learning Time
Homework allows for more time to complete the learning process. School hours are not always enough time for students to really understand core concepts, and homework can counter the effects of time shortages, benefiting students in the long run, even if they can’t see it in the moment.
6. Homework Reduces Screen Time
Many students in North America spend far too many hours watching TV. If they weren’t in school, these numbers would likely increase even more. Although homework is usually undesired, it encourages better study habits and discourages spending time in front of the TV. Homework can be seen as another extracurricular activity, and many families already invest a lot of time and money in different clubs and lessons to fill up their children’s extra time. Just like extracurricular activities, homework can be fit into one’s schedule.
The Other Side: Why Homework Is Bad
1. homework encourages a sedentary lifestyle.
Should students have homework? Well, that depends on where you stand. There are arguments both for the advantages and the disadvantages of homework.
While classroom time is important, playground time is just as important. If children are given too much homework, they won’t have enough playtime, which can impact their social development and learning. Studies have found that those who get more play get better grades in school , as it can help them pay closer attention in the classroom.
Children are already sitting long hours in the classroom, and homework assignments only add to these hours. Sedentary lifestyles can be dangerous and can cause health problems such as obesity. Homework takes away from time that could be spent investing in physical activity.
2. Homework Isn’t Healthy In Every Home
While many people that think homes are a beneficial environment for children to learn, not all homes provide a healthy environment, and there may be very little investment from parents. Some parents do not provide any kind of support or homework help, and even if they would like to, due to personal barriers, they sometimes cannot. Homework can create friction between children and their parents, which is one of the reasons why homework is bad .
3. Homework Adds To An Already Full-Time Job
School is already a full-time job for students, as they generally spend over 6 hours each day in class. Students also often have extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or art that are just as important as their traditional courses. Adding on extra hours to all of these demands is a lot for children to manage, and prevents students from having extra time to themselves for a variety of creative endeavors. Homework prevents self discovery and having the time to learn new skills outside of the school system. This is one of the main disadvantages of homework.
4. Homework Has Not Been Proven To Provide Results
Endless surveys have found that homework creates a negative attitude towards school, and homework has not been found to be linked to a higher level of academic success.
The positive effects of homework have not been backed up enough. While homework may help some students improve in specific subjects, if they have outside help there is no real proof that homework makes for improvements.
It can be a challenge to really enforce the completion of homework, and students can still get decent grades without doing their homework. Extra school time does not necessarily mean better grades — quality must always come before quantity.
Accurate practice when it comes to homework simply isn’t reliable. Homework could even cause opposite effects if misunderstood, especially since the reliance is placed on the student and their parents — one of the major reasons as to why homework is bad. Many students would rather cheat in class to avoid doing their homework at home, and children often just copy off of each other or from what they read on the internet.
5. Homework Assignments Are Overdone
The general agreement is that students should not be given more than 10 minutes a day per grade level. What this means is that a first grader should be given a maximum of 10 minutes of homework, while a second grader receives 20 minutes, etc. Many students are given a lot more homework than the recommended amount, however.
On average, college students spend as much as 3 hours per night on homework . By giving too much homework, it can increase stress levels and lead to burn out. This in turn provides an opposite effect when it comes to academic success.
The pros and cons of homework are both valid, and it seems as though the question of ‘‘should students have homework?’ is not a simple, straightforward one. Parents and teachers often are found to be clashing heads, while the student is left in the middle without much say.
It’s important to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of homework, taking both perspectives into conversation to find a common ground. At the end of the day, everyone’s goal is the success of the student.
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do housework or do one's housework
- Thread starter Roger Wang
- Start date Jan 12, 2023
- Jan 12, 2023
Should you do housework? or Should you do your housework? Which is correct?
Senior Member
What's the context, Roger Wang?
Roger Wang said: Should you do housework? or Should you do your housework? Which is correct? Click to expand...
or I asked my associate,a youg guy.
I'm sorry, I can't think of a situation in which I'd say either of your two options, though I suppose the phrase "do your housework" is generally less likely than "do housework". Can you explain in other words what you want your question to mean?
Loob said: I'm sorry, I can't think of a situation in which I'd say either of your two options, though I suppose the phrase "do your housework" is generally less likely than "do housework". Can you explain in other words what you want your question to mean? Click to expand...
It's the "should" in "Should you do [your] housework?" that's the problem, Roger.
please tell me how to correct it
There's no 'correction' involved - both your original questions are grammatically correct: It's simply unclear what you intend the questions to mean. Why would you ask the question, and in what context?
I'd like to know something like: My wife does her housework every day. or My wife does the housework every day. or My wife does housework every day. Thanks for your patience.
Is your question about housework/ her housework/ the housework ?
yes,thanks.
I can't see any difference between 'housework' and 'the housework' - (the) chores to be done in the home. ' Her housework' sounds like the work has been assigned, by a superior. I'd prefer to use 'her share of the housework.'
thanks a lot.
Learn the Difference
Difference Between Homework and Housework
Intermediate
What’s the difference between homework and housework ?
And at the end I’ll also tell you about a common mistake that English learners often make with homework and housework.
How To Use HOMEWORK In English
Homework refers to schoolwork that you do at home.
So if you’re in class, your teacher might give you homework – maybe a worksheet, maybe a book/article to read, maybe an exercise to do or something to research – and then you do that homework outside of class, at home.
Homework is usually extra practice or an additional assignment to help you practice what you learned inside class, or take your learning further.
How To Use HOUSEWORK In English
Housework refers to the physical tasks that are necessary to take care of your house or apartment , the place where you live. We usually use housework to refer to cooking, cleaning, and laundry (washing your clothes).
So homework is schoolwork you do at home, and housework involves maintaining your living space.
What About “Chores”?
One of my students asked if the word chores means the same thing as housework.
Yes – chores is another word we can use for those things that you have to do around the house. Washing dishes, sweeping the floor, cleaning the toilet, and so on. You probably don’t really enjoy them, but they need to get done.
And it’s also common to use this word chores you have a parent who makes their children help with these tasks. So the parent would say, “you have to do your chores.” You need to do those things around the house that you’re responsible for, like cleaning up your room or maybe helping with the laundry.
HOMEWORK And HOUSEWORK Are Always Singular!
Now here’s an important detail – the word chore is countable, so you can have one chore, two chores, three chores, or a lot of chores to do.
But homework and housework are BOTH considered uncountable . So we always use them in the singular, always homework and housework, never homeworks or houseworks.
They are singular even when they refer to multiple tasks. So even if you have multiple assignments to do and multiple things to do in your house, it’s still only homework and housework.
You can talk about general quantity by saying a little homework/housework or a lot of homework/housework – but don’t use numbers, like “three homeworks,” and don’t add an S, “a lot of houseworks” – it’s not correct.
WORK / WORKS
This rule also applies to the word “work” – most of the time it’s singular.
Don’t say “I have a lot of works to do.” – the correct way would be “I have a lot of work to do.” You can say tasks, you can say projects, you can say assignments, you can say things – those can all be plural, but work is typically singular.
There’s one situation where we can say “works” and that’s specifically when we’re talking about works of art, works of music, or works of literature. So when we’re talking about productions in the artistic world, then sometimes we use works in the plural. For example, this is one of Picasso’s greatest works of art.
But in everyday life, when talking about the work you have to do, it’s always work, singular and same with homework and housework, singular.
Now you know the difference between homework and housework – and remember, doing homework is really important for reviewing and practicing what you learn!
Course Curriculum
- Difference Between Homework and Housework 20 mins
- Difference Between Accept and Except 20 mins
- Difference Between Ad and Add 10 mins
- Difference Between Adapt and Adopt 30 mins
Chore vs. Housework — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Chore and Housework
Table of contents, key differences, comparison chart, compare with definitions, common curiosities, why is it important to distinguish between chores and housework, how often should chores be done compared to housework, can chores be part of housework, can doing chores help children, why might some people view chores as less important than housework, is cooking considered a chore or housework, what is the main difference between a chore and housework, can housework include outdoor tasks, how do cultural norms affect perceptions of chores and housework, how can families effectively manage chores and housework, is it common for chores to be paid tasks within the family, how can one make chores and housework more manageable, what impact does technology have on housework and chores, how does the nature of housework change in larger homes, share your discovery.
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In this article, we will explore the differences between homework and housework in more detail and examine why it is important to understand the distinction between the two. Define Homework. Homework refers to tasks assigned to students by their teachers to be completed outside of regular class time. These tasks are usually related to the ...
Homework is work that school pupils are given to do at home. You say that pupils do homework. Don't say that they ` make homework '. Have you done your English homework? 2 `housework'. Housework is work such as cleaning or washing that is done in a house. She relied on him to do most of the housework. Be Careful!
housework. Housework is work such as cleaning or washing that is done in a house. She relied on us to do most of the housework. Housework is an uncountable noun. Find out more in our English Usage article. This blogpost is based on Collins COBUILD English Usage, written for learners of English. For more examples of English usage points, please ...
The distinction between "Homework" and "Housework" is now clear. "Homework" refers to school assignments completed outside the class, while "Housework" refers to cleaning or maintenance tasks performed at home. ... Understanding these differences will help refine your English usage. Post navigation. Previous Previous post ...
Housework: chores, like washing and cleaning. Homework: schoolwork that you do at home. To work from home: to do your main job (that you earn money for) without leaving your house. To work overtime: to stay late at work. To be overworked: to have too much work to do.
Housework refers to the physical tasks that are necessary to take care of your house or apartment, the place where you live. We usually use housework to refer to cooking, cleaning, and laundry (washing your clothes). So homework is schoolwork you do at home, and housework involves maintaining your living space.
⭐ 600+ Confusing English Words Explained: http://bit.ly/600ConfusingWordsExplained ️ Read the lesson text: https://www.espressoenglish.net/difference-between...
Homework (noun) - refers to tasks assigned to students by teachers to be completed mostly outside of class, and derives its name from the fact that most students do the majority of such work at home. For example: "A lot of students in the UK get too much homework." Housework (noun) - refers to domestic household chores such as cleaning and cooking.
Now you know the difference between homework and housework - and remember, doing homework is really important for reviewing and practicing what you learn! A lot of our include homework. Sometimes that's a quiz so you can test yourself on the lesson, and sometimes the homework is a writing task or speaking task where you can send your ...
What's the difference between homework and housework?These two words seem practically identical, but they actually have separate meanings and uses. I'll clar...
As nouns the difference between homework and housework. is that homework is work that is done at home, especially school exercises set by a teacher while housework is domestic household chores such as cleaning and cooking.
Difference Between Homework and Housework. ADVERTISEMENT. Compare with Definitions. Homework. Homework, or a homework assignment, is a set of tasks assigned to students by their teachers to be completed outside the classroom. Common homework assignments may include required reading, a writing or typing project, mathematical exercises to be ...
Homework. According to the OED, the original meaning of "homework" does conflate much more obviously with "housework," with the former being defined, above all, as:. Work done at home, esp. as distinguished from work done in a shop or factory.. The earliest citation is a hearty piece of precious advice from a sermon from the 1680s: Wherefore let every Man, in the first place, look after his ...
Homework is something that is usually assigned by a teacher, school or class where you are learning something. • I need to do my Math homework • The teacher assigned a lot of homework to the students Housework refers to the chores or tasks you do at home, for example sweeping the floor, cleaning the bathroom, doing the laundry, washing the dishes
Homework also helps students develop key skills that they'll use throughout their lives: Accountability. Autonomy. Discipline. Time management. Self-direction. Critical thinking. Independent problem-solving. The skills learned in homework can then be applied to other subjects and practical situations in students' daily lives.
Hanoi, Vietnam. Vietnamese. Oct 14, 2021. #7. DonnyB said: To me, "housework" and "household chores" are virtually synonymous, the main difference being that "chores" implies they're things that most people dislike having to do. Thanks a lot!!! So, I can say: "My family usually shares the housework duties.
Housework includes cleaning, organizing, and maintaining the home, as well as preparing meals and doing laundry. While some people may find housework to be tedious and time-consuming, it is an essential part of keeping a home clean, healthy, and functional. Here is a table outlining some of the differences between chores and housework:
It allows everyone to get to know each other better, and parents can see where their children are struggling. In the same sense, parents can also see where their children are excelling. Homework in turn can allow for a better, more targeted educational plan for the student. 5. Homework Allows For More Learning Time.
As nouns the difference between household and housework is that household is collectively, all the persons who live in a given house; a family including attendants, servants etc.; a domestic or family establishment while housework is domestic household chores such as cleaning and cooking. As an adjective household is belonging to the same house and family.
As nouns the difference between homework and household is that homework is work that is done at home, especially school exercises set by a teacher while household is collectively, all the persons who live in a given house; a family including attendants, servants etc; a domestic or family establishment. As an adjective household is belonging to the same house and family.
Gran Canaria. English - exIreland. Jan 12, 2023. #13. I can't see any difference between 'housework' and 'the housework' - (the) chores to be done in the home. ' Her housework' sounds like the work has been assigned, by a superior. I'd prefer to use 'her share of the housework.'.
Household. Collectively, all the persons who live in a given house; a family including attendants, servants etc.; a domestic or family establishment.
Housework refers to the physical tasks that are necessary to take care of your house or apartment, the place where you live. We usually use housework to refer to cooking, cleaning, and laundry (washing your clothes). So homework is schoolwork you do at home, and housework involves maintaining your living space.
Chores often have a more flexible frequency and can be rotational or assigned on an as-needed basis, while housework follows a more regular schedule. For example, a chore like dusting the living room might be done weekly, whereas housework such as doing dishes or making beds is often daily. The perception of chores versus housework can vary ...