Edit This Grammar Lesson (Revisited): Stationary vs. Stationery
- Steve Gamel
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
I enjoy writing Edit This® Grammar Lesson blog posts, especially about homophones. Why? Simply put, they confuse us more than we care to admit. The good news is that there is a seemingly endless list of options to choose from, and I've covered almost all of them over the years. However, every once in a while, we need a refresher on combos that were previously discussed but never quite clicked.
A perfect example is the distinction between stationary and stationery.
Do you know when to use each one in your everyday writing? Most of you might reply with a resounding "yes." But again, words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings trip more people up than you think. I see stationary and stationery mixed up all the time in various things I'm editing for clients.
So, let's dive right in, shall we?
Stationary (with an "ary" at the end) refers to something that isn't supposed to move. It's fixed in place, unchanging, and immobile.
* He rode the stationary bike.
* He ran into the stationary vehicle.
* Just aim and shoot at the stationary object.
Stationery (with an "ery" at the end) refers to writing materials such as paper and envelopes.
* She bought some pretty stationery.
* The motel offers free stationery.
* Your stationery order has arrived.
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It's fun to tease friends for grammar mistakes or point out other errors in written copy. But any spelling or grammar error in business writing—brochures, website copy, blog posts, press releases, newsletters, etc.—wreaks havoc on your company's image.
Studies show that when choosing between two companies, customers prefer the one with clear and error-free written communication.
We hope you enjoyed today's blog. If you want Edit This® to handle your company's content writing and editing needs, call us today! We can write copy from scratch or refine existing written content. Everyone could use an extra set of eyes when it comes to grammar.
STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This®, a writing and editing services company in Denton, TX. He is also the author of Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.
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