Hear, Hear vs. Here, Here: What's the Difference?
Learn why hear, hear is the standard expression of agreement and here, here is a homophone error, with origin, punctuation, examples, and FAQs.
Hear, hear is the standard exclamation used to express strong agreement or approval. Here, here is a common homophone error. The expression originally urged listeners to hear the speaker, which is why it uses the verb hear twice.
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At 6:30 p.m., comments under a proposal include “Here, here!” The writer is not pointing to a place; they are endorsing the proposal, so the traditional expression is “Hear, hear!”
Hear, Hear vs. Here, Here at a glance
| Word | Typical role | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| hear, hear | Exclamation | I strongly agree; listen to this speaker | “Clearer deadlines would help everyone.” “Hear, hear!” |
| here, here | Nonstandard homophone error | a mistaken spelling of hear, hear | Incorrect: Several attendees shouted, “Here, here!” |
How to use hear, hear
Hear, hear developed from the imperative hear him or hear her in public debate. Repeating hear turns the call into a compact expression of approval. A comma normally separates the repeated words.
“Clearer deadlines would help everyone.” “Hear, hear!”
How to use here, here
Here refers to location, so it does not fit an expression that asks people to listen or signals agreement. The phrase persists as an error because hear and here sound identical in most varieties of English.
Incorrect: Several attendees shouted, “Here, here!”
Rules that make the choice easier
Connect agreement with listening
When applauding an idea, use hear because the original sense is listen to what this person is saying.
Punctuate the repetition
Write hear, hear with a comma between the words. An exclamation point is common when the phrase stands alone.
Reserve here for place
Use here when indicating a location: put it here, come here, or here is the report. Location is not part of the agreement idiom.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Incorrect idiom: Here, here! Correct: Hear, hear!
- Do not omit the comma in carefully edited prose.
- Do not use the expression as if it means come to this location.
Quick practice
1. Which expression shows agreement?
Answer: hear, hear
2. Which word in the pair refers to location?
Answer: here
3. What punctuation separates the repeated words?
Answer: a comma
Frequently asked questions
Is it hear, hear or here, here?
Hear, hear is correct when expressing agreement or approval.
What does hear, hear mean?
It means strong agreement and originally encouraged others to listen to the speaker.
Does hear, hear need a comma?
Yes. Standard punctuation places a comma between the repeated words.
Why do people write here, here?
Hear and here are homophones, so the unfamiliar idiom is easily mistaken for the location word.