LAURA FINEBERG COOPER
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Spoonful#66: STATIONARY VS. STATIONERY

6/14/2020

4 Comments

 
Picture
If you're like me and treasure receiving a personal note, letter, or card, you should make sure to know the difference between STATIONARY and STATIONERY! 

One of these words means note paper and the other means standing still. Do you know which is which? Go ahead and take a guess before I provide the answer. 

(No peeking!)



If you guessed that STATIONERY is another word for note paper (especially the kind with matching envelopes), you are correct! 

STATIONARY means standing still, which is what many of us feel like with so much being done virtually instead of face-to-face. I hope you are enjoying nature and connecting with friends and family in any way possible. STATIONARY can also mean unchanging and consistent. 

That's all for this spoonful. I have to cut it short as I feel inspired to send someone a card! Take care, everyone. I'll be back next Sunday with another short, sweet spoonful. 

Sincerely,
Laura Fineberg Cooper

4 Comments
Marianne
6/14/2020 09:16:01 pm

Ooh--one of my favorites! I usually get this one right, but not always. Thanks for the reminder.

Reply
Laura Fineberg Cooper link
6/15/2020 02:09:29 pm

You're welcome, Marianne! Thank you so much for reading my blog and taking the time to comment. I agree that these words are especially easy to mix up.

Reply
Marcia Strykowski link
6/22/2020 07:47:08 am

I wonder if there's an easy trick with these two words in the way principal has the word 'pal' in it to keep it from being confused with principle. Maybe the 'e' in stationery can stand for pen.

Reply
Laura Fineberg Cooper link
6/22/2020 11:13:39 am

Marcia, I love that idea. The stationery you write on does have an "e" for both pen and envelope. I did a little more digging and discovered that stationery derives from a French/Norman word beginning with the letter E meaning post (mail), while stationary derives from a Latin word meaning where a person or object is situated or assigned.

Reply



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    ​A Spoonful of Grammar!

    Swallowing too many grammar rules at once can be hazardous to one's health. That's why my goal is to deliver one spoonful at a time - in the most delightful way.
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    Sincerely,
    Laura Fineberg Cooper

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