"Stationary" vs. "Stationery": How to Tell the Difference

English is not an easy language to master—at times, it even stumps native speakers. An abundance of similar-sounding words makes it even harder to grasp the nuances of this global language. Admit it: You’ve even stumbled at times when trying to differentiate between discreet vs. discrete or stationary vs. stationery.

These sets of words that sound the same but are spelled differently and mean different things are called homophones. And they’re pretty easy to mix up. With our communication skills on display for anyone on the internet to dissect (to say nothing of the grammar police), it’s all the more important that you avoid making grammar mistakes that make you look bad.

Luckily, if you know when to use stationary vs. stationery, you can reduce the risk of embarrassment. Let’s take a look at some tips that can help.

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What does stationary mean?

Stationary with an a is an adjective that describes things that are fixed, still or immobile. Think of a stationary bike at the gym, for example. Unlike other bicycles, stationary bikes are intended for exercise only. They don’t take us anywhere; in fact, they can’t even move.

Examples of stationary in a sentence

There are five stationary bikes at my gym.
Mark stood stationary at the door; he didn’t want the intruder to hear any noise.
The traffic was completely stationary for 20 minutes before someone fixed the traffic light glitch.

Quick tip: An easy-to-remember grammar rule is that stationary with an a means “to stay,” which also has an a.

What does stationery mean?

stationery on table Oksana Shufrych/Getty Images

Stationery with an e is a noun that refers to tools that aid in the writing process. Merriam-Webster lumps together everything from paper and cards to pens, pencils, erasers and markers in its definition of stationery—you know, the sort of stuff you’d buy at a stationery store

Examples of stationery in a sentence

Appealing and functional stationery is a relatively affordable luxury.
You can get your initials monogrammed on your personal stationery.
Do you want a pattern of bluebells or daisies on your wedding stationery?

Quick tip: Remember you need stationery with an e to write letters, which also has the vowel e.

**Why do people keep getting confused between stationary and stationery?**

These homophones are differentiated by just one letter and have caused much confusion over the ages. Imagine texting your friend that you just bought a new stationery bike. It might not start a world war, but it does reflect badly on you.

**How do you remember if it’s stationary or stationery?**

By now, it’s clear how these homophones ended up on the list of everyday words people misspell. But there are a few simple memory tricks for keeping these sound-alike words straight:

E is for envelope: You insert letters that you write using a pen into an envelope. All these things can be found at a stationery store. Notice how all these words have a common vowel: e.
A is for at rest: When you’re at rest, you stay fixed in one place. If something is not moving or cannot move, it is stationary. Note that all of those words also share a common vowel: a.

Or try saying this, “My apartment is stationary; my letter is on stationery.”

Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll no longer fear they’re words you’re using wrong. Go on and write them with confidence—on your nicest stationery!

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