WATCH: Pore Over or Pour Over
Since pour is a common word and sounds identical to pore, many English speakers use the verb pour in the verb phrase pore over meaning “to meditate or ponder intently.”
Oops, we’ve definitely written that one incorrectly before …
What does pore mean?
When talking about carefully reading books, wills, or other documents, pore is the verb that you’re looking for.Pore means “to read or study with great attention.” So, for example, you pore over books.
Side note: Pore can also refer to a tiny opening, like the pores on your skin, though this pore has a different etymological root.
What does pour mean?
Pour, on the other hand, means “to send flowing or falling,” as in “he poured a cup of coffee.”
Recent coffee fads may be contributing the increased use of pour over, which also refers to a coffee-brewing technique imported from Japan where you pour water over freshly ground coffee.
