Stationary vs. stationery: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Stationary means not moving or staying in one place, while stationery refers to writing materials such as paper, pens, and envelopes.
What they have in common
Both words are pronounced the same way (homophones), have similar spellings, and are commonly confused in writing.
Examples
stationary
- The train remained stationary at the platform for an hour.
- During the earthquake, I tried to stay stationary under the table.
stationery
- I bought new stationery for my office.
- She sent a letter using her personalized stationery.
Which one is more common?
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