As a verb, spur means to incite or stimulate. It comes from horseback riding, where one might urge a horse with one’s spurs. The definition of spurn is to reject disdainfully. It doubles as a noun meaning a disdainful rejection. The difference between spur and spurn is clear, but their similarity in sound makes them easy to confuse—for example:
But spurned by heightened awareness of environmental issues, many feel CSR’s time has come. [Globe and Mail]
You forgot to mention the part where Hitchcock destroyed Tippi Hedren after she spurred his advances. [comment on Obsessed With Film]
These writers use spur well:
Growing wealth from the emerging economies, largely in Asia Pacific, helped spur the demand for these so-called “investments of passion”. [Guardian]
But his death in October has spurred a contest for another octopus to take his place. [Time]
The solar industry is spurring economic growth in every community it touches. [Austin American-Statesman]
And these writers use spurn correctly:
Similarly, no particular piece of cake will ruin our diet but we must spurn enough of them or else we’ll never lose weight. [Financial Times]
But it also made villains of them in some people’s eyes, especially James who spurned his home town Cleveland to join the Heat. [The Age]
A 48 year-old Dudley man has been jailed for six months after spurning the chance to keep his freedom. [Dudley News]
