Words / C1

GAYT/ɡeɪt/

Gait is a person’s manner of walking: an unsteady gait, gait analysis. Walk is the everyday verb/noun; stride is longer steps; gate is a lookalike spelling (an opening). In occupational health it is an observation, not prose colour. Do not write it as atmosphere and skip the incident form.

Meaning

A person’s manner of walking.

Examples

• “A changed gait after twelve-hour invigilation is an occupational-health note, not colour writing.”
• “Walk is everyday. Pace is speed. A gate is a barrier — different word. Style in a novel can use gait. A night sitting is work. Log the hours and the observation; leave the adjectives for the novel.”

Good to know

How someone walks. Everyday: walk. Mix-up: gate. In work settings it is a health note, not décor.

Near in meaning

walk

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