Heal vs Heel: Which One Do You Need?
To heal is to make better. A heel is the back of the foot.
The wound will heal. A blister on her heel.
The test that settles it
Heal shares its a with health. The body part has two es, like feet.
“time will ___ it” → make it better, so heal.
“a broken ___” → part of a shoe or foot, so heel.
Heal: to make or become well
A verb, used of wounds, illnesses and also of rifts between people.
The cut healed in a week.
Time heals most things.
Efforts to heal the division.
Swap in make better. If it works, heal.
Heel: the back of the foot
A noun for that part of the foot or shoe. Also an old word for a dishonourable person, and a command to a dog.
She rubbed her sore heel.
A shoe with a low heel.
The dog walked to heel.
Is it part of a foot or shoe? Then heel.
Side by side
| Heal | Heel |
|---|---|
| To make well | Back of the foot |
| Verb | Noun (mostly) |
| a, as in health | ee, as in feet |
| Wounds heal | High heels |
The exceptions
He’ll is the contraction of he will, and in fast typing it joins the pile. The apostrophe is the giveaway.
A boat heels when it leans over in the wind. Unrelated to healing, and a common word in sailing writing.
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The bruise will heel soon. | The bruise will heal soon. | Getting better. |
| blisters on my heals | blisters on my heels | The body part. |
| Achilles heal | Achilles heel | The tendon at the back of the foot. |
| a faith heeler | a faith healer | One who heals. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- The fracture should ___ within six weeks.
- These shoes rub my ___.
- His ___ is the family business.
- The community is trying to ___.
- The dog was taught to walk to ___.
Show the answers
1. heal 2. heels 3. Achilles heel 4. heal 5. heel
Frequently asked
What is an Achilles heel?
A single point of weakness, from the myth in which Achilles was invulnerable except at the heel where his mother held him.
Is well-heeled about shoes?
Yes, originally — it meant well shod, and so wealthy enough to afford good footwear.
More words people confuse
