Broach and brooch are easy to confuse because they sound similar, but they do different jobs in a sentence.
Broach is usually a verb. It means to bring up a topic for discussion, often carefully. You might broach a difficult subject at work or broach an idea in a meeting.
Brooch is a noun. It means a decorative pin or clasp, often worn on clothing. A brooch can be simple, antique, or jeweled.
- We need to broach the budget problem before Friday.
- She pinned a silver brooch to her coat.
A simple way to remember the difference is this: if you are raising an issue, use broach. If you are talking about jewelry, use brooch.
Although broach can also be a noun in some technical contexts, most everyday confusion is between the common verb broach and the jewelry noun brooch.
