Stationary and stationery sound the same but their meanings are very different.
Stationary (with an A) is an adjective meaning 'not moving':
✅ The train has been stationary for over ten minutes.
✅ I'm going to be late for school. My bus has been stationary for nearly fifteen minutes.
Stationery (with an E) is a noun meaning 'paper, envelopes, and writing equipment':
✅ There is a stationery shop just across the road.
✅ I need to buy some new stationery before I start school next week.
Tips for remembering the difference
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| The spelling difference can act as a helpful mnemonic device. |
Examples from the media
The vintage Corvette from his Game days is parked out there. It's a handsome machine—low-roofed, thick-wheeled—but it has the rather dusty and forlorn look of a car that has been stationary a while. —The Guardian
Stationery enthusiast Joel Chung Yin-chai believes having the right pencil could have a positive impact on a child's life. —South China Morning Post
Related posts
Should it be 'stationary' or 'stationery'?
Real-world examples of misuse
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