Nerve-Wracking vs Nerve-Racking? Which One is Correct?

Trying to live up to people’s expectations day in and day out can be a perennial struggle. And those key moments that matter the most in that pursuit can be quite nerve-racking. Or are they “nerve-wracking”?

Both “nerve-racking” and “nerve-wracking” are correct/acceptable terms. They denote “nervousness that leads to extreme annoyance or irritability”. However, the term “nerve-racking” is the original term, or it came before “nerve-wracking”. The purists prefer it over “nerve-wracking”, as a result.

If you’re wrecking your brain, unsure whether to use “nerve-wracking” or “nerve-racking” in your texts, keep reading for some much-needed guidance/insight.

“Nerve-Wracking” – Definition

The phrase “nerve-wracking” means “a thing that makes one extremely nervous”. The term shares its meaning with “nerve-racking, ” which is the term’s original spelling or variation.

Despite being the alternative spelling, “nerve-wracking” is a widely accepted phrase and could be preferred over “nerve-racking” by certain publications and in some writing contexts.

The term “nerve-wracking” first arrived at the scene during the early 20th century. To be specific, it showed up in 1905 in an advert in the Times. In 1908, the New York Times used the term too for the first time.

“Nerve-Racking” – Definition

“Nerve-racking”, as mentioned above, means the same as “nerve-wracking”. When you feel extremely nervous about something, you could say it’s “nerve-racking” or “nerve-wracking”. According to purists of the language, however, “nerve-racking” is the original and correct spelling, and “nerve-wracking” is an aberration.

The term “nerve-racking” was first used in a letter in 1812 by a poet named Shelley, who communicated to his friend that he was pleased not to be a part of the spirit-quelling and “nerve-racking” metropolis.

Long story short, “nerve-racking” and “nerve-wracking” have been in use for more than a century. On a related note, the phrase “racking your brains” can be traced back to the late 1600s.

How Did “Nerve-Racking” Find an Equal Substitute in “Nerve-Wracking”

The term “nerve-racking” and “nerve-wracking” being used in the same vein has quite a bit to do with the verbs they are based on: “wrack” and “rack”. Strangely, the terms “wrack” and “rack” do not mean the same thing.

The word “wrack” has its roots in “wrak”, a Middle English word. The term “rack”, on the other hand, derives inspiration from “rekken”, a Middle Dutch term. When viewed as nouns, the two words do stand apart. But they conflate when turned into verbs.

Current Usage of “Wrack” and “Rack”

The term “wrack” can be used as a noun or a verb in texts. When used as a noun, it denotes “damage” or “destruction”, as in “a wrecked ship”. When incorporated as a verb, it signifies “to ruin completely”.

The word “rack” is a well-known noun denoting “a framework, typically fitted with rails, hooks, bars, or pegs, to hold or store things”. Synonyms of the term include “frame”, “stand”, shelf”, etc. It could also mean “to accumulate or gather something”. For example:

• She racked up huge amounts of cash through tips.

The word’s noun implication could also be verbalized to assume the definition but in the verb form. For example:

• He racked the suits he was planning to wear during the three-day event.

In the above sentence, the subject “racked” or “arranged” the clothes in order.

The term “rack” signified “torture equipment” during medieval Britain. For instance, “to rack something” denoted “putting it on a rack for torture”. When employed in sentences as a verb, “rack” can, therefore, mean “to cause anguish or extreme pain”. For example:

• He felt like he was racked throughout the examination.

Idiomatically speaking, you may “rack up points”, “rack billiard balls”, “cook a rack of meat”, etc.

A common phrase in which “wrack” gets used is “wrack and ruin”. Though somewhat archaic sounding, the expression is essentially an empathetic way to say “ruin” or “wreckage”, or “great destruction”.

Based on their meanings, “wrack” and “rack” are two similar yet distinct words. However, both the terms signify destruction, which seems to fit well when used in the phrases “nerve-wracking” and “nerve-racking”, respectively. “Wracking” is derived from “wrack”, which is synonymous with “wreck”. “Racking” is based on the term “rack”.

These similarities between the verbs “wrack” and “rack” have significantly contributed to the two terms comingling. The usage issue arises when trying to choose a spelling between the two.

Most native English speakers prefer “wrack and ruin”, “rack your brain”, “pain-wracked”, “storm-wracked”, etc. But then some other native speakers may also side with the variant spelling.

Another major reason these terms are often used in place of each other is their similar pronunciations.

Identical Pronunciations

“Nerve-wracking” and “nerve-racking” sound the same when pronounced. This only further adds to the interchangeability of the two terms. The almost alike pronunciations caught on, and dictionaries ultimately started to include “nerve-wracking” as the other, legitimate spelling for “nerve-racking”.

Using “Nerve-Wracking/Nerve-Racking” in Texts

Both the phrases get used as adjectives in texts, typically to describe a thing that makes one feel nervous, anxious, tensed, etc. Though “nerve-racking” is the original term, quite a few prefer “nerve-wracking” as the term associates itself with “wrecking” better.

If you are not too keen on incorporating either of the two words in your texts, consider using their synonyms. For example, use words such as “daunting” or “distressing”. The terms “stressful” and “annoying” are also acceptable.

However, none or most of these synonyms may not convey the depth or intensity of feeling that “nerve-racking” implies. Therefore, use terms like “gut-wrenching” or “harrowing” instead.

“Wracking” and “Racking” in Other Terms

The terms “wracking” and “racking” have grown so close to each other that they get interchangeably used in a few other terms/phrases too. For example, and as alluded to above, the phrases “wracking (one’s) brain” and “racking (one’s) brain” are both considered valid terms.

Only the purists or traditionalists consider “wracking (one’s) brain” a spelling/grammatical error. If you are a purist yourself and/or care about what the traditionalists think, use “racking (one’s) brain” in your texts. If you don’t give a toss, use either of the two.

How Not to Confuse Between “Wrack” and “Rack”

Since “nerve-wracking” and “nerve-racking” carry the same meanings, it doesn’t matter if you use the two terms interchangeably. Just make sure you do not use them alternately in the same copy.

As far as the terms “wrack” and “rack” are concerned, being wary of the differences in their meanings is critical to not use them incorrectly in your texts.

If the term to be used is a noun, it’s most likely “rack”. For example:

• Clothes are hung on a rack.
• He ate a rack of chicken.

In neither of the above sentences can you replace “rack” with “wrack”.

“Wrack” can also be used as a noun to express or describe happy life moments. If you know the meanings of the respective terms, you’ll know when and when not to use “wrack” or “rack”.

Since “wrack” and “rack” mean the same thing when used as a verb, it’s always recommended to use “rack”. Despite being widely used, “wrack” is not as common a verb as “rack” and can confuse some readers.

If you feel the need to use “wrack”, use “wreck” instead. However, when the intended meaning is “inflict damage”, use “wreak”. Because you do not “wreck or wrack havoc on” but “wreak havoc on”.

Example Sentences with the Phrase “Nerve-Racking”

In the following example sentences, you may replace “nerve-racking” with “nerve-wracking”. But watch out for the purists!

• It was a nerve-racking period for us and her parents.
• An abortion is a nerve-racking experience for any woman.
• Mary was not answering my calls, and that was quite nerve-racking for me.
• Getting prepared to welcome a new-born into the house can be both exciting and nerve-racking.
• Being in constant camera glare was nerve-racking for the budding star.
• The multiple changes a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy can be nerve-racking for the concerned.
• For her, dating is anxiety-inducing and nerve-racking.
• Walking across the century-old suspension bridge was quite nerve-racking.
• It is always a bit nerve-racking to perform in front of an audience, irrespective of how many times you’ve done that before.
• Hearing the door-banging noise during the wee hours can be nerve-racking.
• Being suddenly pushed to the dance floor is always nerve-racking.
• Putting an item up for an auction can be nerve-racking for the seller.
• Dating is a confusing, complicated, and nerve-racking topic if you are a single parent.
• Looking for a new job after being out of work for more than two months was nerve-racking for him.

Conclusion

“Nerve-wracking” and “nerve-racking” have similar spellings and sound the same. However, unlike other pairs of terms or phrases that sound the same but have slightly different meanings, neither of the two terms is incorrect or invalid. And because they carry the same definitions, you may use them interchangeably, but not in the same piece of writing.

If you are very particular about the authenticity and correctness of the words/phrases used in your texts, consider siding with “nerve-racking”.