Stationary/Stationery Although these two words sound alike, they have very different meanings. Stationary means "staying in one place". It indicates that the subject is not moving or some measure/quantity is not changing. EXAMPLE: From this distance, the satellite appears to be stationary. Stationery means "writing material".It includes anything related to writing. The wedding cards,greeting cards, writing implements,pencilcase etc.; all form part of stationery. EXAMPLE: A hotel often provides stationery with its name pre-printed.
Straight/Strait Straight is most often used as an adjective meaning "unbending". EXAMPLE: The path cut straight through the woods.
Strait is a noun which means "a narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water" or "distress, dilemma". EXAMPLE: He was in dire financial straits.
Sample Usage
Stationary:
The cars remained stationary for almost an hour.
They can't keep the dogs stationary for long.
Stationery:
The shop near the school provides all the stationery items.
The teacher asked the students to bring the stationery required for the drawing class.
Straight:
Her house is just at the end of this straight road.
He never talks straight.
Strait:
This strait will lead you to the other side of the garden.
They have entered the straits of financial crisis.
|