Understanding the Differences Between Lead and Lede

Lead vs. Lede: What’s the Difference?

Two words that sound the same but have different meanings are “lead” and “lede”. Let’s learn about them!

History

Lead: This word is very old. It comes from the Old English word “lǣdan,” which means to guide or bring along. It can also refer to a heavy metal.

Lede: This word is used mainly in journalism. It started being used in the 1900s to rhyme with “lead” but differentiate between the meanings.

How to Use Them

Lead: This word has two main uses. It can mean to guide someone or be in front. It can also be the name of a soft, gray metal. People say it as “leed” when it’s a verb and “led” when it’s a noun.

Lede: This word is used in writing news stories. It means the first part or opening of a news story. It is important because it catches the reader’s attention.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Remember that lead is like the leader of a line or a heavy metal. Lede sounds old-timey and is about stories.

Examples of Lead

• The teacher will lead the class to the library.
• A good leader knows how to lead a group well.
• They followed my lead and soon everyone was dancing.
• Be careful when handling lead because it is very heavy.
• The artist used a lead pencil for the drawing.

Examples of Lede

• The lede of the article made me want to read more.
• In journalism, the lede is the most important sentence.
• She wrote a catchy lede for her news story.
• A strong lede can grab the readers’ attention quickly.
• The lede told everyone the main point of the article.

Summary

Remember, “lead” is about guiding or a metal. “Lede” is about the first part of a news story. While they sound the same, they are used very differently. Keep practicing to remember which one to use!