Do You Bathe or Bath?

A friend of mine once said, “I’m going to bath the dog.” I didn’t have the heart to correct her grammar, but it’s been several years, and it’s still with me. (I know what you’re thinking, but I DO actually have more important matters to think about—-I just have a difficult time letting things go.)

While some might say that using bath as a verb is becoming more common, bathe is the correct verb; bath is a noun.

  • I’m going to bathe the dog.
  • I’m going to give the dog a bath.

From what I’ve seen, using bath as a verb is more of a regional colloquialism, and it should be avoided in favor of the always-correct bathe.

Ok, now I wash my hands of it.

Sherry

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