Port vs. Starboard – How to Use Each Correctly
What’s the Difference Between Port and Starboard?
These two words are both nouns that refer to different sides of a ship.
Port usually is a noun, but occasionally it acts as an adjective as well. It means the left side of the ship, when facing forward on the ship.
- The ship sustained damage on the port side from hitting a smaller motorboat.
Starboard has the exact opposite meaning: the right side of the ship, when facing forward or towards the bow.
- Cleanup is required on the starboard side of the cruise, since one of the passengers spilled a drink on the deck.
Now, let’s go over a few ways you can use these words in your sentences.
Using Port in a Sentence
When to use port: Port has several different definitions, including harbor, a place where ships load and unload, and a type of sweet, red wines as well. However, the definition that people most frequently confuse with starboard is the one relating to the side of a ship. In the context of locations on a ship, port means the left side. This assumes that one is facing forward toward the bow of a ship, in the direction a ship would be moving.
For example:
- If the passengers look over the railing on the port side, they will see a pod of dolphins playing alongside the ship. (side of a ship)
- Many merchant ships used Boston as a major port early in American history. (area for loading and unloading)
- I prefer white wine because I find port to be too sweet. (wine)
Because port and starboard are nautical terms, they only refer to the left and ride sides of a ship. One wouldn’t use these terms generally for anytime one wanted to say left side or right side.
Using Starboard in a Sentence
When to use starboard: Starboard is a noun or adjective referring to the right side or direction of a vessel.
For example:
- All hands on deck to the starboard side!
- Move the ship 90 degrees starboard.
There is quite a lot of specialized vocabulary relating to ships, parts of ships, and directions of ships. For example, bow means the front of the ship and stern means the back of a ship.
Remembering Port vs. Starboard
If you assumed that port, meaning left side, is related to port, meaning harbor, you are correct. People used port to describe the left side of the boat because in the past it was the left side of the ship that faced the harbor for loading and unloading.
However, if you thought that starboard was related to stars, you would be wrong. It actually relates to the word steer. Early boats had paddles or rudders on the right side of the boat, so the right side was where the steering apparatus was located.
To help you remember each of these definitions, you can use the spelling of port and starboard. Port has four letters, just like the word left. Likewise, starboard has nine letters, just like the phrase right side.
Outside Examples
- Damage to the port side is visible as the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain steers towards Changi naval base in Singapore following a collision with the merchant vessel Alnic MC on Monday. –Chicago Sun Times
- A study by the seismological service concluded that that quake killed about 400 people and caused severe damage around the port of Manzanillo. A powerful aftershock that hit 19 days later caused a tsunami that devastated 15 miles of coastline, killing 75 people. –OC Register
- The Singapore government said no crew were injured on the Liberian-flagged Alnic, which sustained damage to a compartment at the starboard, or right, side at the front of the ship some 7 meters (23 feet) above its waterline. The ship had a partial load of fuel oil, according to the Greek owner of the tanker, Stealth Maritime Corp. S.A., but there were no reports of a spill. –Houston Chronicle
- The Fitzgerald rocked violently, settling into a 7-degree list to her starboard side. –USA Today
Quiz: Port vs. Starboard
Instructions: Fill in the blank with the correct word or expression, either port or starboard, in the correct form.
- Watch out! I see something on the right side of the ship! Oh no, it’s an iceberg! The ___________ has been hit!
- It is easy to stay on course when we are traveling due North. Wait! Enemies are approaching from the West! Move all the canons to the ___________ side so that we can defend ourselves.
- As the captain walked toward the stern, one of his sailors walked past him on his left side, the __________ side of the ship.
- Would you like to drink some ________?
See answers below.
Article Summary
Should I use port or starboard? Both port and starboard can act as either nouns or adjectives to describe different sides of a ship. Port also has additional definitions.
- Port can mean the left side of a ship, a sweet, red wine, or a harbor.
- Starboard refers to the right side of a ship.
Be careful to know which word is appropriate for each context.
Answers from Quiz
- starboard
- port
- port
- port