Word Usage
Mary W. Ng
June 26, 2009
stationary, stationery
The adjective stationary means “not moving or not changing”. Stationery is an uncountable noun meaning “pens, paper, envelopes, pencils, and other things used for writing”.
| Incorrect: | A moving train collided with a stationery train. |
| Correct: | A moving train collided with a stationary train. |
| Incorrect: | I bought some stationary. |
| Correct: | I bought some stationery. |