Stationery or stationary?
Posted by: Josef EssbergerA stationer sells stationery (writing paper, envelopes and other office materials).
- You’ll find some envelopes in the stationery cupboard.
Stationary is an adjective meaning “not moving”.
- The car hit a stationary bus.
Posted by Josef Essberger December 2007
Josef founded EnglishClub for learners and teachers of English in 1997
7 comments
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shazia says:
Thanks, It is very good and useful.
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english says:
Thanks redrdr. That’s a great way to remember it.
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redrdr says:
The way I was taught to keep these straight is stationery has an ER just like papER.
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Hung says:
Thanks, english. That is what I meant.
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english says:
> do English say stationary mall?
If you mean a mall that is not moving, yes, we could say “stationary mall”. But almost by definition malls are stationary, so it is highly unlikely that we would use this expression.
A “stationery mall” is very feasible: a mall where stationery is sold; a mall full of stationers.
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english says:
This would make more sense:
A stationary lorry loading up stationery is parked in front of the stationery mall.
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Hung says:
Interesting! A stationary lorry loaded up stationary is parking in front of a stationary mall.
P/s: do English say stationary mall?
thanksHung