The Difference between Stationary and Stationery
Stationary and stationery sound the same but their meanings are completely different.
Stationary (with an A) is an adjective that means '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 that refers to items such as paper, pens, envelopes, and notebooks:
✅ There is a stationery shop just across the road.
✅ I need to buy some new stationery before I start school next week.
Note that stationery is uncountable, so it is never used in the plural and it never takes the indefinite article a:
❌ I bought many stationeries that I didn't need at all.
✅ I bought a lot of stationery that I didn't need at all.
❌ They sell the widest range of stationeries in Hong Kong.
✅ They sell the widest range of stationery in Hong Kong.
❌ The charm of a stationery goes far beyond what you can see.
✅ The charm of a piece of stationery goes far beyond what you can see.
Tips for Remembering the Difference between Stationary and Stationery
A handy tip is to remember that stationery includes envelopes.
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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 (2015)
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 (2017)
Related Posts
Should It Be 'Stationary' or 'Stationery'?
Real-World Examples of Misuse
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