Difference Between Base, Basis, and Bass: A Simple Guide

Understanding Base, Basis, and Bass

Some English words look and sound similar but mean different things. “Base,” “Basis,” and “Bass” are three of those words. Let’s learn the differences between them.

Base

History: The word “base” comes from Latin and Old French. It means the bottom part of something.

How to Use: “Base” is used to talk about the main part or the bottom of something.

Examples:

• The base of the mountain is very wide.
• We built our camp at the base of the hill.
• She mixed colors at the base of the painting.
• The story has a strong base in history.
• He stood at the base of the stairs.

Basis

History: The word “basis” comes from Latin and Greek. It means the main idea or reason for something.

How to Use: “Basis” is used to explain the main idea or foundation of something.

Examples:

• She was chosen on the basis of her skills.
• The basis of the plan is to save money.
• We work on a basis of trust.
• The basis for the rule is safety.
• Our friendship has a strong basis in kindness.

Bass

History: The word “bass” comes from Old French. It means a low, deep sound, or a type of fish.

How to Use: “Bass” is often used in music to talk about deep sounds, or in fishing to talk about a type of fish.

Examples:

• The bass guitar sounds deep and strong.
• We caught a big bass in the lake.
• The singer has a bass voice.
• He likes to fish for bass on weekends.
• The song has a heavy bass line.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of “base” as the bottom part, “basis” as the main idea, and “bass” as the deep sound or type of fish.

Summary

All three words sound similar but mean different things. Use “base” for the bottom part, “basis” for the main idea, and “bass” for deep sounds or a fish. With practice, you will remember when to use each word.