Meaning & use
Bruce
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproper
A male given name used in English-speaking countries, and also a common family name.
Grammar: Proper nouns take no article in normal use: Bruce is here, not the Bruce is here.
Patterns
- Bruce is ...
- call someone Bruce
- a man named Bruce
Bruce is coming to dinner with his sister tonight.
My grandfather's name was Bruce, and he was born in Aberdeen.
proper nounproper
The royal family that ruled Scotland in the 14th century, especially King Robert I.
Grammar: Often appears in the fixed phrase Robert the Bruce or the House of Bruce.
Patterns
- Robert the Bruce
- the House of Bruce
- Bruce's army
Robert the Bruce led the Scottish army at the Battle of Bannockburn.
The House of Bruce produced several kings of Scotland.
Common combinations
- Robert the Bruce
- Robert the Bruce is a national hero in Scotland.
- Bruce's spider
- The story of Bruce's spider is often told to children to teach patience.
- the Bruce family
- The Bruce family owned land in both Scotland and England.
- Bruce County
- Bruce County is a region in Ontario, Canada.
Commonly confused: Bruce or brusque? Bruce or bruise?
Bruce vs brusque
Brusque is an adjective meaning rude or abrupt in manner; it sounds similar to Bruce but is a completely different word.
Bruce vs bruise
A bruise is a dark mark on the skin; it is spelled with an i and is not related to the name Bruce.
Practice
Which sentence uses the proper noun Bruce correctly?
Choose one answer.
Bruce is a proper name and does not take an article, so 'Bruce is my cousin's name' is correct. 'The Bruce' is wrong in ordinary modern use, and 'bruce' as an adjective or verb is not English.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Bruce”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.