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When Wracking My Brain?

James H. Sterling • • 6 min read
When Wracking My Brain?

wrack (one's) brain(s)
To struggle very hard to recall or think of something. ("Rack" is considered the more correct spelling, though "wrack" has become acceptable through common usage.) I've been wracking my brain, but I still can't remember what Lydia's husband's name is.

Is it wracking my brain or racking my brain?

The spelling 'rack' is now used in all senses except for the seaweed called wrack. So it's "rack and ruin," … "racking my brains," and so on. Some other usage guides provide a way of dealing with this question that has a certain brutal charm: just stop using the word wrack.

What does it mean to rack your brains?

to try very hard to remember something or to solve a problem. I've racked my brain, but I just can't remember his name. Synonyms and related words. To memorize something, or to try to remember something.

James H. Sterling
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James H. Sterling

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.