What’s That Thing-a-ma-jig About?

Understanding “Some Thing” vs. “Something”

English can be tricky sometimes, especially with words that look almost the same. Let’s talk about two such words: “some thing” and “something”. At first glance, they might seem very similar, but they have different uses.

History of the Words

Both “some thing” and “something” come from the English language we use every day. “Some” refers to an amount, and “thing” refers to an object or idea. Over time, these words were put together to make “something,” which has a special meaning on its own.

How to Use “Some Thing”

“Some thing” is used when talking about an unspecified item or when emphasizing two separate ideas. It is less common than “something”.

• There is some thing in the box that I can’t identify.
• Do you need some thing to help you cook?
• Each child brought some thing unique to the party.
• She whispered some thing secret to her friend.
• Some thing feels different about this place today.

How to Use “Something”

“Something” is used to talk about an unspecified item but is the usual way these two words come together.

• There is something in my shoe.
• I need something to drink.
• Did you hear something just now?
• Can you bring something for the picnic?
• He has something important to tell us.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of “some thing” as “some (thing)”, where you want to highlight two ideas separately. For example, if you want to emphasize a specific “thing,” you can use “some thing.” But for most conversations, “something” is the word you want to use.

Summary

In short, use “some thing” when you want to talk about an item with extra emphasis, although it is not very common. Use “something” for most situations when mentioning an item you can’t or didn’t name.