hone in
verb
George PlimptonBob GreeneLisa Russell
Hone in vs. Home in: Usage Guide
Most usage commentators consider hone in to be a mistake for home in. The use may have arisen from home in by the weakening of the \m\ sound to \n\ or it may have developed simply because of the influence of hone, with perhaps an underlying sense that "honing" figuratively involves a narrowing or sharpening of focus. Whatever the explanation of its origins, it has established itself in American English and has begun to make a few inroads into British English as well. Even so, your use of it especially in writing is likely to be called a mistake. Home in or in figurative use zero in is an easy alternative.
Examples of hone in in a Sentence
Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
And in a play all about relationships, director Matthew MacDermid deftly hones in on the complicated connections between the members of the Tyrone family.
—Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2025
The attacks can be targeted, honing in on banking or other financial apps, awaiting an opportunity to steal credentials and share them with their handlers.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
After noticing a global gap in effective and trusted protection when faced with financial diminution, the company honed in on the product, refining it to meet the needs of employees worldwide.
—Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hone in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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