Stationary vs. Stationery – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 11, 2019/ Usage

What is the Difference Between Stationary and Stationery?

Stationary and stationery are homophones, which means that they sound the same. However, the definitions of each word are completely different. Therefore, you must be careful not to use these two words in the same way.

Stationary is an adjective that means not moving or remaining still.

• The rabbit remained stationary so that the predator would not notice it.

Stationery is a noun that means paper for writing or a set of materials for writing.

• My grandmother insisted on buying me expensive stationery on which to write my thank-you notes.

Now, let’s go over the specific ways each of these words are used.

Using Stationary in a Sentence

When to use stationary: Stationary is an adjective that describes something in a fixed position, or something that remains in one place.

For example,

• The person on the street was so stationary that many passerby thought he was a statue.
• It’s not possible to move that fixture because it’s stationary. In fact, it’s built into the wall.

Stationary is more common than stationery. Some common collocations include stationary bike (which is an exercise bike that remains in one place while still allowing the person to pedal), stationary vehicle, and stationary object (this last phrase appears often in the field of physics or mathematics).

Using Stationery in a Sentence

When to use stationery: Stationery is a noun that refers to writing materials such as paper, envelopes, and ink.

For example:

• I like to make my own letters and envelopes from scratch, but my sister likes to buy nice stationery with matching paper and envelopes.
• It’s getting harder to find stores that sell a large variety of stationery. Many consumers must order their writing materials online.

Stationery first came into use around the late 1600’s or early 1700’s. It comes from the word stationer, a seller of books and paper. This is actually related to the word stationary, since stationers were stationary shops, while most other sellers roamed from place to place.

Remembering Stationary vs. Stationery

One way to remember the difference between these two words is to use the spelling of each as a mnemonic device.

Stationary ends in the letters ary, just like the word library. Libraries are usually buildings that are permanently in one location. Because libraries are most often stationary, you can remember the relationship between the spelling and the meaning.

Alternatively, stationery contains the pair of letters er, just like at the end of the word paper. This can help you remember that stationery means paper and other writing materials.

Outside Examples

• The National Weather Service forecast office in Corpus Christi said “once the storm makes landfall, its future is uncertain as it stalls between two high-pressure systems and along a stationary front.” –USA Today
• Unlike traditional bomb-sniffing dogs, which only detect stationary explosives like boxes or bags left at a site, vapor-wake dogs are trained to detect body-worn explosives on a moving target. –New York Post
• Lavins and her fellow debutantes were each given a set of monogrammed stationery at the start of the experience, with which they were encouraged to write thank-you notes to event hosts and community service organizers. –Chicago Tribune
• The neighborhood also attracts the literary set, thanks to Peinture Fraiche, a gallerylike bookstore selling impeccably chosen art, design and architecture tomes, and Le Typographe, a paper-lover’s Eden of handmade notebooks, diaries, stationery and other goods printed on site. –New York Times

Quiz: Stationary vs. Stationery

Instructions: Fill in the blank with the correct word, either stationary or stationery, in the correct form.

1. Some people like to exercise on treadmills while others prefer to use the gym’s _____________________ bikes.
2. The engaged couple wanted to buy some unique ________________ on which to print their wedding invitations.
3. The university provided all incoming freshmen with a free gift: a set of _____________ with which to write.
4. People who don’t exercise much and who are _______________, such as those who must sit at a computer all day long, are more likely to develop bad heart conditions.
5. The physics exam will cover calculating the velocity between a moving object and a ___________ object.

Article Summary

Should I use stationary or stationery? Although these words sound the same, they have no overlap in meaning.

• Stationary is an adjective that means still or staying in one place.
• Stationery is a noun that refers to paper for writing, or a set of materials for writing

Make sure the word you chose to use matches the context.

Quiz Answers

1. stationary
2. stationery
3. stationery
4. stationary
5. stationary