Tic or Tick?
What is the difference between tic and tick?
Tic is a noun denoting an involuntary twitch. For everything else, use tick.
Tic is a noun denoting an involuntary twitch. For everything else, use tick.
Tic
The noun tic is an involuntary contraction of the muscles, usually in the face.Examples:
- I have a number of violent tics. Tourette syndrome is not just compulsive actions but compulsive thoughts too.
(Dash Mihok) - Tics are often invisible to the observer, such as abdominal tensing or toe crunching.
Tick
The word tick has many meanings.Tick: A mark to show something is correct or completed.
Examples:
- Why isn't there a tick next to my name?
(This is an example of tick being used as a noun.)
- The 'don't know' answer sometimes is the box you should tick. (Robin Ince)
(This is an example of tick being used as a verb.)
Examples:
- Time management is an oxymoron. Time is beyond our control, and the clock keeps ticking regardless of how we lead our lives. (John C Maxwell)
(This is an example of tick being used as a verb.)
- The tick in my watch is driving me insane.
(This is an example of tick being used as a noun.)
- Anyone who devotes time and attention to what makes people tick, to me, is a smart person. (Ron Silver)
(This is an example of tick being used figuratively.)
Example:
- He'll be back in a tick.
Example:
- I know runners who have suffered a tick bite and ended up with Lyme disease. I'll take an angry moose any day. (Don Kardong)
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