“Clause” or “Claws”—Which to use?

“Clause” or “Claws”

Overview

clause / claws are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

clause: (noun) (grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate but not constituting a complete sentence.

claws: (noun) sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles. (noun) a grasping structure on the limb of a crustacean or other arthropods. (noun) a bird's foot. (verb) move as if by clawing, seizing, or digging. (verb) clutch as if in panic. (verb) scratch, scrape, pull, or dig with claws or nails. (verb) attack as if with claws.

Pronunciation

clause: k·l·AO·z

claws: k·l·AO·z

Trends

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Examples in Context

Examples of “clause”

…offend against the due process clause, the spirit and content of…
…furnishings to the college, a clause which was belatedly adhered to…
…with American included a Most-Favoured-Customer Clause, which requires Airbus to refund…
…undisclosed fee; due to a clause in his Wigan contract, his…
The clause acts to perpetuate United having…
Using a clause in the Danish constitution that…
…in Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States…
…and therefore occurs in all clause types.
…of October 11, 1878, the clause relating to the plebiscite was…
…subject to a lock in clause, for the duration of that

Examples of “claws”

These elongated claws resemble those of spiders in…
211: Steel Claws (Red Dragon Trilogy #2)
…others in that it has claws on both the boots and…
…vibration by rapping their larger claws against the ground.
…increases flexibility), and curved foot claws of Confuciusornis are all traits…
…are remarkable for having hook-like claws on the raptorial last segments…
…of calcium compounds in the claws of the back three legs…
…can uncover to reveal bear-like claws for scratching enemies.
…passing flying insects with their claws.
Instead these lobopods had hooked claws with which it could grip…

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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