You know what can be nerve-racking for a writer? Making spelling errors. It would probably keep me up at night were it not for spell-check and autocorrect, wonderful by-product of the digital age. These features come to the rescue to mitigate anxiety-inducing mistakes (but they can also insert errors, especially into awkward text messages). However, some words slip through the cracks — one particular word pairing often missed by spell-checkers, editors, and the like is the perplexing choice between “nerve-racking” and “nerve-wracking.” While both forms are technically permissible, there are some caveats.
Merriam-Webster defines “nerve-racking” as an adjective that describes something “marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings,” as in, “It was a nerve-racking exam” or “This is a nerve-racking game!” However, the term “nerve-wracking” is listed as a spelling variation. According to M-W, both versions are correct, but “nerve-racking” is preferred. Conversely, the Oxford English Dictionary explains that “nerve-racking” predates “nerve-wracking,” but the latter is the more commonly used modern version. It seems even major dictionaries have differing opinions on these terms.
So, why are there two versions? Turning back the clock a thousand years reveals they developed not out of a spelling error, but from different Old English words, causing them to carry unique nuances. “Rack” comes from the Old English reccan, meaning “to stretch,” with the connotation of suffering or mental anguish (you might recognize “the rack” as a medieval torture device). Conversely, “wrack” stems from the Old English wracu and wræc, meaning “vengeance, persecution, or misery.” Because the words sound the same and have such similar meanings, “wrack” mistakenly replaced “rack” in “nerve-racking.”
Grammar purists may champion “nerve-racking” as the superior choice, citing its historical precedence, but either term is generally acceptable, and major dictionaries back that up.
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