Should you use feet or feat in writing and texting? It depends on what you mean to convey because although these two words have the same pronunciation, they have different meanings. Feet refers to a measurement (length) or the body part used for standing and walking. On the other hand, a feat is an achievement, often an impressive one.
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What Does Feet Mean?
Feet is the plural of foot, which has two principal meanings. The first meaning, as mentioned earlier, refers to the body part (below the ankle joint) that we use for standing and walking. The second meaning is a unit of measurement. A foot represents 12 inches.
The foot, as a body part, has origins in the Greek pod and the Latin ped. Both mean “foot.” In Old English, it appeared as fot. As a measurement, no one knows the origin for certain. The most popular claim is that the foot of King Henry I was 12 inches long, hence the name.
Example sentences:
- He’s so clumsy that people joke he has two left feet.
- My feet were aching after that 10-mile hike.
- The spa was so hot that I just soaked my feet.
- Some constrictor snakes can grow to well over 20 feet long.
- When you measure the room, please use feet and inches.
When and How to Use Feet?
You’ll use feet to refer to the length of an object or the body parts at the end of our legs. It’s always plural.
Interestingly, it’s okay to say you caught a 4-foot fish and not okay to say you caught a 4-feet fish. However, notice that the word isn’t being used entirely on its own.
If you’re going to abbreviate the word as a measurement, use ft or a single apostrophe after a number. (10 ft or 10’)
What Does Feat Mean?
A feat is an achievement or an extraordinary act (act of courage or act of skill). It is always a noun.
The word goes back to the Latin factum. In Old French, it was fait, and in English, it was fact until taking its current form. At the time, fact meant “action” or “deed.”
Example sentences:
- Climbing Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen is an impressive feat.
- Fighting off a mugger is a courageous feat.
- Graduating college before 16 is a rare feat only a relative handful of geniuses have managed.
- It was no small feat getting that huge mattress up the stairs.
- His running endurance is an impressive feat!
- Winning an Olympic gold medal is a feat many athletes dream of achieving.
When and How to Use Feat?
A feat is an accomplishment you admire and respect. You can further convey that with one of the following modifiers: impressive, courageous, daring, bold, etc.
You might also use the word sarcastically for an accomplishment that wasn’t too impressive. This might especially be the case if the person is unduly proud about it.
Example: A lazy kid wants credit for taking the trash out. Parent: “Yes, that was quite the feat there; you deserve a reward.”
What’s the Difference?
Mastering feet or feat starts with knowing they’re homophones. These are words that have the same pronunciations but different spellings and meanings.
Both can be nouns, but you can use feet as an adjective. It’s uncommon, but here’s an example:
The measurement was just feet off the exact length.Feat is always singular because it’s one deed, but feet is always plural because there are two or more feet on a body, on furniture, or being measured.
Trick to Remembering Which Word to Use
The easiest way to remember how to use similar words is to know their spellings and meanings. In our case here, it’s helpful to remember that feet is plural and feat is singular. One way to help with that is to commit to memory that the word feet has two e’s and is a plural word.
Final Thoughts
With feet or feat, the former is a measure of length. It can also be the body parts (the bottom of your legs) we use for running, standing, and walking. This word is always plural. The latter is a notable act or accomplishment deserving of admiration and is always singular. Since the words aren’t similar in meaning, mastering them is an easy feat!
