TOEIC Link Part 5: broach versus brooch
Broach and brooch are pronounced the same but belong to different word classes. Broach works as a verb meaning to raise or introduce a subject, especially a sensitive one. Brooch is a noun naming a decorative pin worn on clothing. Part 5 sets up a blank where either spelling could look right, so it checks whether you mean opening a topic or an accessory. For the wider set of look-alike traps, start with the commonly confused word pairs master index.
The core rule: raise a topic versus a pin
- broach (verb) = to bring up a subject for discussion. No one wanted to broach the topic of budget cuts at the meeting. / She waited for the right moment to broach the idea of relocating the office. It answers what did they do with the subject? — opened it up. Link broach to raise and introduce: it is about starting a conversation.
- brooch (noun) = an ornamental pin fastened to clothing. She wore a silver brooch on the lapel of her jacket. / The gift shop displayed a brooch shaped like a leaf. It answers what was the object? — a piece of jewelry. Link brooch to pin and ornament: it is a thing you wear.
The meaning does the memory work: broach is an action about talking (you open a topic); brooch is an object you wear (a pin). One starts a discussion; the other decorates a jacket.
Why Part 5 likes this pair
Word class separates them cleanly. If the blank is a verb about raising a subject, you need broach. If the blank is a noun naming a piece of jewelry, you need brooch.
The manager was reluctant to __ the question of overtime pay.
A verb about raising a sensitive subject needs broach.
The store's best-selling accessory last quarter was a pearl __.
A noun naming an ornament needs brooch.
Spotting the clue
Decide whether the sentence is about starting a conversation or an object:
- Does the blank describe opening up a topic? → choose broach (broach the subject).
- Does the blank name a decorative pin? → choose brooch (a gold brooch).
A quick test: can you replace the word with "bring up"? Then it is the verb broach. Can you replace it with "a pin"? Then it is the noun brooch. Because Part 5 blanks are usually surrounded by grammar clues, check whether the slot wants a verb or a noun first — that alone often decides it. For more sound-alike traps that hide in Part 5, see the sound-alike verb pairs study guide.