Vain vs vane vs vein
Vain is an adjective: too proud of yourself, or useless, as in a vain attempt or in vain. Vane is a pointer that turns in the wind. Vein is a blood vessel, or a streak running through rock.
vain adjective
Too proud of yourself, especially your looks. Also, failing to get the result you wanted.
- He was too vain to wear his glasses, so he squinted at the menu all evening.
- Firefighters made a vain attempt to save the old mill before the roof collapsed.
vane noun
A pointer that turns in the wind to show which way it is blowing, or a blade turned by air or water.
- The copper vane on the church steeple swung north as the storm rolled in.
- Steam rushing past the turbine's vanes spins the generator shaft.
vein noun
A tube in the body that carries blood back to the heart. Also a streak or line running through something.
- The surgeons carefully avoided the large vein during the operation.
- A dark vein of mineral wound through the polished granite.
Watch out
- All three sound exactly the same, so only the spelling tells them apart.
- Vein can also mean a style or mood that runs through something, like a speech or a conversation.The conversation gradually drifted into a more personal vein.
- Vain can also describe promises or words that are empty and worthless.The campaign was full of vain promises that no one expected to be kept.
Test yourself
The nurse found a blank in the patient's arm to take a blood sample.
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vein. A vein carries blood back to the heart, and blood samples come from veins.
She is so blank that she checks her hair in every mirror she passes.
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vain. Being too proud of your looks is being vain.
The weather blank on the barn roof pointed east.
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vane. A pointer that turns to show the wind's direction is a vane.
The miners followed a rich blank of gold deep into the hill.
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vein. A sheet of minerals running through rock is a vein.