Brimming over: debunking the "chalk full" error

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 05/10/2024, 20:55

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Chalk full or chock-full. What's correct?

Spelling and usage error

Why do people make this mistake?

People make the error because "chalk" and "chock" are homophones in some dialects, leading to confusion in spelling.

What is correct?

The correct expression is "chock-full", which means "full to overflowing" or "crammed/stuffed tightly." It's derived from the Old English word "chokkeful", meaning "crammed full".

Examples of correct usage

The basket was chock-full of ripe apples.
After the storm, the gutters were chock-full of leaves and debris.
The concert hall was chock-full of eager fans.