Which Word is Correct?

Passed or past? Poll or pole? Precede or proceed? Stationery or stationary? These, and other words, confuse many writers. Let’s get them straight.

Most of the words in this post are homophones. They sound the same but have different meanings — meanings that can cause laughs or raised eyebrows if you don’t apply them correctly.

Each word pair that follows is accompanied by at least one definition for each word, as well as mnemonic triggers.

Are you ready?

Here Are Today’s Words

passed and past

passed: past tense, past participle of pass: to move or make something move in a specific direction

past: earlier; before the present; referring to or of a time that has gone by

Mnemonic triggers:

• He was embarrassed when he passed the mirror and noticed the gravy on his chin.
• I got a raise at last, at last! My downcast moods are in the past.

peace and piece

peace: tranquility; harmony

piece: a chunk; a portion

Mnemonic triggers:

• Each and every realm has earned its peace.
• I yielded to my niece and gave her a piece of the pie.

pedal and peddle

pedal: to move by operating the pedals of a bicycle, a pedal boat, etc.

peddle: to sell; to hawk

Mnemonic triggers:

• She pedaled around the Dalmatian.
• The meddlesome cop wouldn’t let the hawker peddle on the beach.

plain and plane

plain: simple; unadorned; normal

plane: an aircraft; a level surface

• Let me explain: It’s plain he’s a villain.
• The planet had no landing strips for spaceplanes.

poll and pole

poll: survey; canvass; market research

pole: a rod; a stick; a baton; a shaft

Mnemonic triggers:

• The results of the poll were exceedingly droll.
• The farmer stuck a pole in the hole.

pore and pour

pore: a minute opening in a surface, usually the skin

pour: to flow rapidly; to gush; to rain heavily

Mnemonic triggers:

• His face was disfigured by humongous pores and weeping sores.
• The water poured through our yard.

By the way, you pore through an absorbing story.

pray and prey

pray: to ask; to beseech; to express thanks to or make requests of a deity

prey: quarry; an animal that is hunted by a human or another animal, usually for food

Mnemonic triggers:

• They prayed several times a day.
• Osprey eggs are sometimes prey for raccoons.

precede and proceed

precede: to go before; to pave the way

proceed: to advance; to go on; to keep going

Mnemonic triggers:

• The Swedes preceded the Germans in the parade.
• We will proceed if results exceed expectations.

principal and principle

principal: main; primary; a head teacher; a leader

principle: a fundamental truth; a concept

Mnemonic triggers:

• The principal had clammy palms.
• This principle has triple the impact during war.

roll and role

roll: to revolve; to turn over repeatedly on an axis; a tiny loaf of bread

role: function; position; an actor’s part in a movie, TV series, etc.

Mnemonic triggers:

• She rolled the stroller full of rolls to her college.
• His role was to trap the mole in the hole.

sew and sow

sew: to join, make, or repair something using a needle and thread or a machine designed to do the same

sow: to spread seeds on earth

Mnemonic triggers:

• She sewed the dress while the coffee brewed.
• She sowed the seeds while the cows mooed.

stationery and stationary

stationery: writing materials; pen and paper

stationary: not moving; immobile; motionless

Mnemonic triggers:

• She pulled out her stationery and wrote a note to the bakery.
• They called him the stationary notary because he never left his desk.

waist and waste

waist: the part of the human body between the hips and the ribs

waste: to squander; to expend carelessly

Mnemonic triggers:

• She wrapped a daisy garland around her waist.
• Don’t waste the leftover flour; you can make paste with it.

week and weak

week: seven calendar days

weak: fragile; frail; defenseless

Mnemonic triggers:

• He’s a geek who works seven days a week.
• The bird was too weak to open its beak.

wonder and wander

wonder: to speculate; to deliberate; to ponder

wander: to stroll; to saunter; to roam

Mnemonic triggers:

• I wonder if you ponder as you eat your fondue.
• He wandered with his wand in hand.

Did You Miss the First Part in This Series?

See Easily Confused Words and How to Get Them Right: Part 1.