Yet another word confusion en pointe vs on point that I thought I knew.
I just knew that en pointe was about a ballet move, and it turns out that this noun phrase could also be spelled on pointe.
On point is more business-like.
To be fair en pointe does sound very like on point.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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En Pointe | On Point |
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Part of Grammar: | |
Morpheme: pointe
Noun phrase Plural: en pointes, on pointes A.k.a. on pointe, pointe work |
Noun phrase
Plural: on point |
Noun phrase: [Ballet] Dancing performed on the tips of the toes [Slang] Right on, perfect, great, or awesome |
Noun phrase: [Law] Applying directly to the topic under consideration [Military] To take a lead role in an operation or to be ready for action [Slang] To be perfect
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Examples: | |
Noun phrase: A fully extended foot is said to be en pointe when touching the floor, even when not bearing weight. Most pictures of ballet dancers show them en pointe. A dancer is said to be on pointe when the dancer’s body supports all their body weight on the tips of fully extended feet. “The cast’s knack for an en pointe move also served them well in a very well received take on ‘Thriller’ and an ode to Rocky Horror” (Duke). Vanessa, your makeup is en pointe today. |
Noun phrase: Jones was on point with his remarks. Who’s on point? Major Jones is on point in this operation. Damn, that chicken was on point! Her acting has been on point. |
History of the Word: | |
French pointe (des pieds meaning point of the feet) literally on tip, tiptoe. | In the 1880s, on point referred to a soldier or unit that was in the front and most exposed position in a combat formation, stationed at their post, or standing guard.
As early as the 1930s, on point described something as relevant in legal contexts. Think to the point. In the 1990s, on point meaning ready to go was found in hip-hop lyrics, which expanded to being on one’s game or right on. In the 2000s, on point especially described a stylin’ outfit. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for En Pointe versus On Point
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Allen, Shundalyn. “Is it ‘On Point’ or ‘En Pointe’?” Grammarly. Last updated 27 Sept 2022. Accessed 9 Jan 2025. <https://www.grammarly.com/blog/commonly-confused-words/is-it-on-point-or-en-pointe/>. Article.
Apple Dictionary.com
Duke, Simon. “Halloween Show’s Not to be Missed.” Evening Chronicle. 12 Oct 2015. Accessed 9 Jan 2025. Article.
The Free Dictionary: en pointe
“On Point.” Slang Dictionary. Dictionary.com. 29 May 2018. Accessed 9 Jan 2025. <https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/on-point/>. Article.
Urban Dictionary: en pointe, on point
Pinterest Photo Credits
Nutcracker by Larry Lamsa is under the CC BY 2.0 license, via Flickr.
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