…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)
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.
Stationery IS stationary!
July 16, 2006…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.
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