by Jennie Ruby
Jibe and jive are two words that have multiple meanings. For one of the meanings, writers often use the wrong word: writer’s use jive to mean be in accord or agree. The correct word is jibe:
- These expense totals do not jibe with the budget.
- The reports of the two witnesses jibe with each other.
Most of the other meanings of these words tend to be used correctly. Jibe is also a synonym for gibe, as in:
- The two groups of middle-schoolers cast jibes at one another. (Meaning they yelled insults at one another.)
The word jive means a type of language with a lot of slang terms in it, or language that is "glib, deceptive, or foolish" (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary). We can thank the Bee Gee’s for giving us a correct memory aid for this one: the song Jive Talkin’ uses this word correctly. Hence the correct sentence:
- Are you jivin’ me? (are you using deceptive language with me?)
Here is a memory aid for our other word of this pair: if two things jibe, they must be the same: the word jibe contains be.
About the Author: Jennie Ruby is a veteran IconLogic trainer and author with titles such as "Essentials of Access 2000" and "Editing with MS Word 2003 and Adobe Acrobat 7" to her credit. Jennie specializes in electronic editing. At the American Psychological Association, she was manager of electronic publishing and manager of technical editing and journal production. Jennie has an M.A. from George Washington University and is a Certified Technical Trainer (Chauncey Group). She is a publishing professional with 20 years of experience in writing, editing and desktop publishing.
Want help with a grammar issue? Email us your troubles and we’ll turn Jennie loose!
Isn’t “jive” also a dance? There was a song in the movie “Grease” called “Hand jiving” (or something like that).
Isn’t “jive” also a dance? There was a song in the movie “Grease” called “Hand jiving” (or something like that).
Isn’t “jive” also a dance? There was a song in the movie “Grease” called “Hand jiving” (or something like that).