Stationary vs Stationery: What's the Difference?
What's the Difference?
Stationary" means motionless, while "stationery" refers to office supplies.
Memory Tip: stationary = not moving, stationery = paper supplies
stationary has 'air', stationery has 'er'
stationary /ˈsteɪʃənəri/
adjectiveNot moving or not intended to be moved.
Example:
Although the car has been stationary for months, it still needs regular maintenance to keep it in good condition.
Common patterns:
stationary object
stationary position
stationary bike
stationery /ˈsteɪʃənəri/
nounStationery refers to writing and office materials such as paper, pens, and envelopes.
Example:
If the company had invested more in quality stationery, the employees would have been more motivated to write reports by hand.
Common patterns:
stationery supplies
stationery store
personalized stationery
Common Mistakes
I need to buy some stationary for my office.
I need to buy some stationery for my office.
The sentence refers to office supplies, so 'stationery' is the correct word.
The car remained stationery at the red light.
The car remained stationary at the red light.
The sentence describes something not moving, so 'stationary' is the correct word.
Quick Practice
0/2 correct1. Although the car has been ____ for months, it still needs regular maintenance to keep it in good condition.
2. If the company had invested more in quality ____, the employees would have been more motivated to write reports by hand.
Other Confusing Words
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