hone in
verb
Bob GreeneLisa Russell
Hone in vs. Home in: Usage Guide
Hone in is commonly used to mean "to move toward or focus attention on an objective," as in "hone in on a solution," but the use is often regarded as an error. The original and recommended phrase is home in, with home meaning "to move to or toward an objective by following a signal or landmark," as in "an arrow homing in on a target" and in the name of the creature known as the homing pigeon. Confusion between the similar-sounding hone and home likely arose because hone is a more familiar verb, and its meanings of "to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone" and "to make more acute, intense, or effective" can seem apt in the context of zeroing in on an objective. Still, careful writers will want to use home in, or zero in, if they want to avoid criticism.
Examples of hone in in a Sentence
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Police began to hone in on Wuornos after her palm print was found in her fourth victim, Peter Siems', car in June 1990.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
In recent years, Hailey Bieber has honed in on a signature manicure style, generally a sheer white either topped with a pearly chrome glaze or a clear topcoat for shine.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 30 Oct. 2025
McAfee honed in on Landry’s points about LSU’s next head coach and their future contract.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone in
Cite this Entry
“Hone in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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