Imagine you are writing an email asking for some time to complete your report, what will you write; Is it ‘bear with me’ or ‘bare with me’? We often use this expression when requesting others to be patient while we do something. However, it can be challenging to remember the exact word, without understanding its basics. Fortunately, there is a solution.
In this guide you will get a complete breakdown of what exactly this phrase means, its correct usage and common mistakes to avoid.
Quick Answer: Is It ‘Bear With Me’ or ‘Bare With Me’?
What term would you employ while describing someone to be patient with you; ‘bear with me’ or ‘bare with me’?
Well, the correct answer is “bear with me”. It is common even among the skilled writers to mix up these two words because they sound exactly the same. However, the meaning and spelling of these words are completely different. The phrase ‘bear with me’ is mainly used to describe someone waiting or tolerating something patiently.
What Does ‘Bear With Me’ Mean?
“Bear with me” means politely asking someone to wait or be patient with you for a while. People say this phrase when they need a moment to do something before responding.
Therefore, in this context, the word bear is used as a verb, which means to tolerate, endure or put up with something. So, the phrase “bear with me” could also be replaced by “be patient with me.” It is a pretty common phrase because it conveys politeness, allows you to pause and makes it clear that you will not keep somebody waiting for too long.
You can hear it almost anywhere: during meetings, while giving presentations, calling a customer care center and even in regular conversations with friends or colleagues. It is a polite way to ask for a pause which implies that you will not make someone wait for a long time.
For example:
- Bear with me as I complete today’s work report.
- Bear with me for a moment while I collect the data to start the survey.
Why the Confusion: Bear vs. Bare
The reason why many people make this mistake is because the words bare and bear are homophones, which means they sound exactly the same but are spelled differently. They also have entirely different meanings.
- Bear (Verb): To endure or tolerate something. Example: “I can’t bear the humidity today.”
- Bear (Noun): The big furry animal. Example: “We saw a bear at the zoo.”
- Bare (Adjective): Not covered or decorated. Example: “Their house walls are bare.”
- Bare (Verb): To uncover or disclose. Example: “She bared her true feelings to him.”
One of the ways to remember which word to choose is to imagine a picture where a bear (animal) is bearing (carrying) something heavy in order to give you enough time to complete your task. This mental picture can help you realize that you need to use the expression ‘bear with me’ and not ‘bare with me’.
For example:
- Incorrect: Please bare with me until my meeting ends.*
- Correct: Please bear with me until my meeting ends.
Also, words that use bare often have to do with things that are empty or without something. Examples are bare feet, bare shelves, etc. If your sentence isn’t about something being empty or without something then it most likely should be ‘bear’.
Where Does the Phrase Come From?
The word “bear” (verb), in the sense of “to endure”, is one of the oldest in the English language, found in Old English beran, meaning to carry or carry a load. This usage of the word has been extended to include bearing a burden, a hardship, or an inconvenience.
The phrase ‘bear with me’ originated from the notion of asking someone to bear (as in ‘carry’) with you in the meanwhile of waiting. So, it is literally asking someone to carry a little with you (a burden of sorts) for a short period of time. This is related to the etymology of the word ‘bear’ and words related to it such as ‘bearable’, ‘unbearable’, ‘forbear’ etc.
Is ‘Bear With Me’ Formal or Informal?
“Bear with me” is a medium phrase in terms of formality. It is quite versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings, though with some restrictions in the latter. One thing to remember is that this phrase is not overly polite or reserved, yet it can be used in professional communication without sounding inappropriate.
The phrase “bear with me” is suitable for each of the following:
- Team meetings or video conferences
- Email correspondence (both informal and formal)
- Customer support/ live chats
- Presentation and webinars
It is less suitable for use in highly formal or officially sensitive contexts, such as communication with executives or government officials, legal documents, formal emails addressed to a client for the first time, etc. In those situations, a more elaborated and reserved variation of the phrase may be required.
Alternatives to ‘Bear With Me’ for Professional Writing
If you are searching for a “bear with me” synonym that is more professional, more polite, or more suitable for a particular situation, here are some options, roughly ordered from most informal to formal tone.
For example:
- “Please be patient” – Good for casual conversations
- “Thank you for your patience” – Good for customer-facing communications
- “Apologies for the inconvenience” – Appropriate when you are at fault and want to express that.
- “I appreciate your patience” – Good for customer service/sales replies.
- “Please allow me a moment” – Very casual and perfect for verbal communication.
Quick tip: Alternating between these phrases can help avoid repetition in your writing, especially when asking others to be patient in emails or other long documents.
Examples of ‘Bear With Me’ in Everyday Use
Here are some quick examples for you to understand how to use this phrase in real life confidently.
| Purpose | Example |
| Bear with me while I get the most up-to-date data. I will complete the report by EOD. | |
| Presentation | Bear with me for a second; my slides are taking a while to load. |
| Casual conversation | Bear with me; actually, I am trying to recall the name of the fancy restaurant we went to last month. |
| Customer service | Please bear with me; I am currently looking into the status of your order. |
| Meeting | Bear with me, I will just explain this part thoroughly before moving on. |
Notice that this phrase can be used both in writing and in speech, as well as how easily it can fit in both casual and professional conversations. This is one reason the phrase is so widely used.
Conclusion
Always remember that the correct phrase to use is “bear with me”. The verb ‘bear’ means to tolerate or endure, while ‘bare with me’ means nothing, because it’s wrong. After you learn this definition, you will never confuse ‘bear’ and ‘bare’ again. You can use this phrase in your writing to get your point across, or to sound more polite in your speech or text by using ‘thank you for your patience’.
Want to stop worrying about these tricky phrases? You can use Kreativespace’s Grammar Checker, to remove any grammatical errors!
Frequently Asked Questions About ‘Bear With Me’
- Is it ‘bear with me’ or ‘bare with me’?
The correct answer is ‘bear with me’. In this phrase ‘bear’ is the verb, which means to tolerate or endure something, while bare describes something simply plain or uncovered.
- What does ‘bear with me’ mean?
Bear with me is an expression that asks someone to be patient with you, for example, while you complete a task or while something occurs.
- Why do people mix up bear and bare?
They are homophones, which means they sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. This makes it easy to confuse the two words when writing.
- Is ‘bear with me’ appropriate in a professional email?
While it is a common phrase to use when addressing someone formally, in a more formal setting, it could be better suited to use a phrase such as thank you for your patience instead.
- What can I say instead of “bear with me”?
Depending on how formal you want to sound, you could say ‘Please be patient’, ‘Thank you for your patience’, or even apologize for the wait.
