Stationary vs stationery
Stationary is an adjective that means not moving. Stationery is a noun for paper, envelopes, pens and other writing supplies.
StationEry has an E for envelopes. StationAry has an A for at rest.
stationary adjective
Not moving, or standing still in one place.
- Traffic on the bridge remained stationary for nearly an hour after the crash.
- He rides a stationary bike in the basement every morning.
stationery noun
Writing materials such as paper, envelopes and pens, and other office supplies.
- The company ordered new stationery with its updated logo printed on every sheet and envelope.
- She keeps her best stationery for thank-you notes.
Watch out
- The two words sound the same, so only the spelling tells them apart. Writing stationary for paper, or stationery for not moving, is a misspelling.
- Stationary can also mean not changing over time, not just not moving in space.The town's population has remained stationary since the factory closed.
Test yourself
Keep the camera blank while the photo is being taken.
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stationary. The camera must not move, so the adjective stationary fits.
The office ran out of blank, so we had to order more envelopes.
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stationery. Envelopes and paper are stationery.
The truck was blank at a red light when the other car hit it.
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stationary. The truck was standing still, not moving.
The hotel left a pen and some blank on the desk for guests.
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stationery. Writing paper for guests is stationery.
Full entries: stationarystationery