Grammar and Syntax/Die vs. end

This is going to be your guide for properly distinguishing between when to use "die" and when to use "end". Both words have similar meanings. They are intransitive verbs that show that something is no longer alive, functional, or existent. However, it is important to know the difference between the two words. Read on to learn more.

Difference between "die" and "end"

You use "die" and "dead" to describe living humans and other animals, as well as plants and other living things, when they cease to live. The word "kill" means to cause the death of a living being. Die is a verb, dead is an adjective, and kill is a verb.

You use "end" and "over" to describe inanimate things such as tragedies, dates, years, and computer bugs and glitches. The words "fix" and "solve" mean to cause the resolution of a problem or glitch. End is a verb, over is an adjective, and fix and solve are verbs.

Examples and explanations

Living beings die. Living beings can be killed.

When writing about the Boston Marathon bombing of April 15, 2013, it is correct to write, "Martin Richard, an 8-year-old boy, was killed in the attack", or "Martin Richard, an 8-year-old boy, died in the attack". It is incorrect to say that Martin "ended" in the attack. He is "dead", not "over".

Problems end. Captivity ends. The year 2015 is over. Glitches can be fixed.

When writing about the 10-year period of captivity and bondage that Amanda Berry endured at the hands of Ariel Castro at 2207 Seymour Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, it is correct to say that the captivity ended on May 6, 2013. It is incorrect to say that the captivity "died" on May 6, 2013.

Remember, people, animals, and plants are born, live some time, and die. Situations, glitches, bugs, ordeals, and problems start, last some time, and end.

• Example 1: "Martin Richard ended on April 15, 2013." This statement is incorrect because Martin Richard is a person, and people are living beings.
• Example 2: "Martin Richard died on April 15, 2013." This statement is correct because it correctly uses "died" to describe Martin's untimely death at the hands of two terrorist bombers.
• Example 3: "Amanda Berry's 10-year captivity was born on April 21, 2003, and it died on May 6, 2013." This statement is incorrect because the captivity was an event, not a living being.
• Example 4: "Amanda Berry's 10-year captivity started on April 21, 2003, and it ended on May 6, 2013." This statement is correct because it correctly uses "started" and "ended" to describe an inanimate time period.
• Example 5: "The Lumiose City glitch was killed on October 25, 2013, two weeks after the release of Pokémon X and Y." This statement is incorrect because glitches are not living beings.
• Example 6: "The Lumiose City glitch was fixed on October 25, 2013, two weeks after the release of Pokémon X and Y." This statement is correct because it correctly uses "fixed" to describe a glitch, which is a problem, not a living being.
• Example 7: "The year 2019 is dead." This statement is incorrect because 2019 is a year, not a living being.
• Example 8: "The year 2019 is over." This statement is correct because it correctly uses "over" to describe a year, which is a time period, not a living being. Every year begins on January 1 of that year and ends on December 31 of that year, but there is no such thing as the "birth" and "death" of a year.

If, after studying this page, you are still struggling, just remember: The animal is dead; its life is over. The puppy's life began on the moment it was born.

Last year, daylight saving time began (not "was born") on March 14, 2021. Later that year, daylight saving time ended (not "died") on November 7, 2021.