Hoard vs. Horde

How to use "hoard" and "horde" correctly

This is an entry on my list of Common Errors in English Usage. Visit the main page for direct links to additional entries.

A hoard is a large collection or stockpile, often hidden:

stole the gem from the dragon’s hoard

Hoard can also be used as a verb:

hoarded the gold and gems within its cave

A horde is a large crowd:

horde of etiquette-challenged barbarians

Common Errors in English Usage: Errors in diction and idiom commonly made by native speakers of English

List of Common Errors in English Usage (PDF): Printable version of the complete list

Common Grammar Errors: A list of common errors in grammar (topics like subject-verb agreement and parallelism) as distinct from usage