Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse people. I have found the following to be among them:
STATIONARY / STATIONERY
Stationary is an adjective describing something that stays in place and does not move. Stationery is a noun that names the type of paper that can be used for letter writing:
Thank goodness my desk remains stationary. If it were to take off flying across the room, my pens and stationery might fall off.
Helpful hint: Stationary objects stay, and both contain the letter A (stationary in that pesky penultimate syllable). Stationery and pen go together, and both contain the letter E.
© 2020 Ann Henry. All Rights Reserved.