Stationery IS stationary!

…That is if there is no external influence moving the stationery around (laughs). Ok the subject of this post is of course a pun. A lame one maybe , but bear with me . This pun is inspired by real facts. You would not believe how many in the English language use both of these terms indiscriminately or sometimes choose the plain wrong one. It is even more amazing when the error is made by folks in the stationery industry.

Webster will clarify things quickly for you (here are excerpts and links below)

FROM WEBSTER:

stationery
http://www.webster.com/dictionary/stationery
One entry found for
stationery.
Main Entry: sta·tio·nery
Pronunciation: ’stA-sh&-”ner-E
Function: noun
Etymology: stationer
1 : materials (as paper, pens, and ink) for writing or typing
2 : letter paper usually accompanied with matching envelopesstationary
http://www.webster.com/dictionary/stationary
4 entries found for
stationary. Main Entry: sta·tion·ary
Pronunciation: ’stA-sh&-”ner-E
Function: adjective
1 : fixed in a
station , course, or mode :
IMMOBILE
2 : unchanging in condition <a stationary population>

Of course, not every one can readily access Webster online or have a hard copy handy to check on words spelling and meaning. So what is one to do when you read such a common yet basic mistake? Rectify gently? Educate? Say nothing? Well that depends. Most people would probably let it pass (if they realized the mistake at all). After all they probably understood what the person meant and don’t care in any way about the mispelling. But… if you have an online stationery store, like I do, you do feel compelled to rectify or educate. Because if people are confused about the name of the industry your business is in, well activities for your business risk to become quite ..uhm.. quite stationery.

Country Flag Colors

Did you know that the CIA (US Government) World Factoid currently list 271 different flags of the worlds? That is a lot of distinctive colors. So if you are into buying or printing patriotic address labels, the world is your market as there are so many patriotic themes and colors to choose from.

Among all the flags of the worlds it should be noted that not all are for individual countries (for example the flag for the European Union). Also countries with outside territories have different set of rules about what colors are used to represent said territories. While the good “Old Glory” is displayed in many unincorporated overseas US territories, the UK has chosen distinctive flags (variations of the UK flag ) on its own territories. And when it comes to display one’s flag, one will find that each country probably has its own set of rules about it (here are some links about US flag and Canadian flag etiquettes).

One rule I think will be universal for all countries (or their territories) is while there can be a special holidays (e.g. Independence Day, or Flag Day, etc.) specially dedicated to their flag, any citizen can choose to display her/his patriotic flag every day. Country Pride has no set schedule.