Stationary vs. Stationery: What’s the Difference?

The words stationary and stationery sound exactly the same, but they have completely different meanings.

One describes movement, and the other describes paper goods.

Here’s the quick rule:

• Stationary → not moving
• Stationery → writing materials like paper and envelopes

1. Stationary

Meaning

Stationary means not moving, still, or unchanging.
Use it to describe objects, vehicles, people, or anything that is not moving.

Examples (10 total)

1. The car remained stationary at the red light.
2. The bike stayed stationary in the garage.
3. She stood stationary, unsure of what to do.
4. The train was stationary for ten minutes.
5. The machine must stay stationary during the test.
6. He kept his arms stationary while stretching.
7. The guards stood stationary at the entrance.
8. The boat stayed stationary on the calm water.
9. The elevator was stationary between floors.
10. The planet is never truly stationary, though it seems still.

🧠 Tip:
If it describes movement, use stationary.

2. Stationery

Meaning

Stationery refers to writing supplies, such as:

• paper
• envelopes
• notebooks
• pens
• cards
• office writing materials

Examples (10 total)

1. She bought cute stationery for school.
2. The store sells colorful stationery sets.
3. He wrote the letter on fancy stationery.
4. They ordered custom stationery for the wedding.
5. I need more stationery for my office.
6. The company prints its logo on all its stationery.
7. She collects vintage stationery.
8. The drawer is full of unused stationery.
9. He sent thank-you notes on elegant stationery.
10. The gift shop sells themed stationery packs.

🧠 Tip:
If it describes office or writing supplies, use stationery.

3. Quick Comparison Table

4. How to Remember

👉 Stationary → “a” → at a standstill
👉 Stationery → “e” → envelopes

Memory trick:

Stationery has an e, just like envelope.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ Using “stationary” for writing paper
✔ Use stationery

❌ Using “stationery” to describe something not moving
✔ Use stationary

❌ Mixing the spellings because they sound identical
✔ Look for the “e” (envelopes) or “a” (at rest)

Humanizey Mention

Tools like Humanizey help writers choose correctly between tricky pairs like stationary and stationery, keeping your writing natural and accurate.

FAQs

1. Do “stationary” and “stationery” have different meanings?

Yes. One is about movement, the other is about writing supplies.

2. Is “stationery” always a noun?

Yes — it refers to paper goods and writing materials.

3. Is “stationary” always an adjective?

Yes — it describes something that is not moving.

4. Why are they confusing?

They are homophones — they sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Stationary” or “Stationery”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. The bus remained ___ for several minutes.
2. She bought new ___ for her desk.
3. The soldiers stood ___ in a line.
4. He wrote the note on fancy ___.
5. The machine must stay ___ during use.
6. The shop sells beautiful ___.
7. His bike stayed ___ on the stand.
8. They ordered custom wedding ___.
9. The elevator was stuck and remained ___.
10. Students often bring colorful ___ to school.

Answers

1. stationary
2. stationery
3. stationary
4. stationery
5. stationary
6. stationery
7. stationary
8. stationery
9. stationary
10. stationery