Course vs Coarse

There are many differences between “coarse” and “course.” They are homonyms, that is, words which sound the same but have entirely different meanings and spellings.

Coarse
“Coarse” is an adjective, and it has many meanings. It means: “crude, rough, not fine in texture and of low quality.” “Coarse” is used for texture, for quality, for mannerisms. By certain examples we can differentiate between its different uses.

Coarse used as crude.

Many things can be crude, like mannerisms and behavior. For example,

The coarse mannerisms of the woman indicated that she was not the mistress of the house.

Coarse used as not so fine a texture.

For example,

The Pacific Ocean sand is coarser than the Atlantic Ocean sand.

Fabrics can be coarse, too, like:

Cotton clothes are coarser than silk clothes.

Coarse used as low quality.

For example,

The perch is a coarse fish.

It means it is not considered as refined and high quality as a fish like salmon.

Course
“Course” is used as noun and also as a verb. Different uses of “course” are listed below.

Noun

A series of educational lessons.

For example,

She is taking a French language course to help her in her tourism job.

It is used to denote the students who take the class.

For example,

All the teachers agreed that he was a very wise course.

A particular direction.

For example,

When the rivers change their course, it changes the lives of people.

Or it is used to indicate direction, like:

The wind took an easterly course.

A course of a meal.

The kings and queens used to eat five-course dinners every day.

A particular stretch of land for sports, for example, a golf course.

Verb

Actions being taken by anyone. For example:

To save the country from economic recession, the finance ministry decided on a particular course of action.

The moving of liquids or ships is also called “coursing.” For example:

The rivers and the ships were coursing through the rough seas.

Hunting with dogs. For example:

In ancient times, hounds were used to course foxes.

As a phrase meaning “naturally.” For example:

Of course, she will attend the wedding of her brother.

Summary:

“Coarse” is used as an adjective whereas “course” is used as a noun and a verb.

“Coarse” means “crude” which can be mannerisms or behavior. It also means of low quality. Like recycled plastic is coarser. It also means of poorer texture. For example, the fabric was very coarse thus not good for babies. However, “course” means almost nine different things. It means actions taken by somebody, hunting with dogs, moving of liquids or ships, a phrase meaning “naturally.” It also means a stretch of sports land, a meal which has many different dishes served at different times, a particular direction, an educational class, and a pupil.

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