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Sarcandra Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Exhale as a noun

Hi again Emotion: smile. In casual English, is it all right to use "exhale" as a noun? Found the sentence below in the same abs workout article.

Sentence: Hold the position for the duration of your exhale.

I've never heard it used this way, but "exhalation" seems too (not sure what word to use) formal(?) for this.

I would change it to "Hold the position for the length of time that you exhale," but I'd also like to know if the first sentence is fine. Thanks!
  

Top answer

Dear sarcandra, I can't say whether or not the first sentence is "fine" - I suppose that at some time or other "exhale" could evolve into a noun. To date, I have never heard it used as such. But since you asked about its usage in casual English I would say yes because I knew exactly what was meant.

— JohnParis

  • Dear sarcandra, I can't say whether or not the first sentence is "fine" - I suppose that at some time or other "exhale" could evolve into a noun.
  • To date, I have never heard it used as such.
  • But since you asked about its usage in casual English I would say yes because I knew exactly what was meant.
  • As someone who goes to a gym, I could almost feel the instructions!
  • " I wonder if I helped you?
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4 Answers
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Dear sarcandra,

I can't say whether or not the first sentence is "fine" - I suppose that at some time or other "exhale" could evolve into a noun. To date, I have never heard it used as such.

But since you asked about its usage in casual English I would say yes because I knew exactly what was meant. As someone who goes to a gym, I could almost feel the instructions!

"Ho
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You sure did, thanks! The writer is also a non-native speaker, so I wasn't sure whether to take it at face value.

Sarcandra
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HI! As a yoga teacher/student I have definitely heard it used as a noun, so I think it is evolving as we speak, but it kind of gives me the jitters. Its especially weird when I find myself saying it! eep.


LauraRose

Oregon

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I've just read a series of novels by author Melissa McPhail; inhale, exhale, inhales and exhales are all repeatedly used as a noun. I prefer inhalation etc. I've not seen or heard it used as a noun before this.

She is a U.S author and I read that she is a yoga instructor. Perhaps the use of exhale and inhale as a noun in yoga explains her frequent use in her writing.

Regardless, I

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