Stationary vs. Stationery 

"Stationary" vs. "Stationery" in English

What Is Their Main Difference?

They are homophones. However, 'stationary' refers to something/someone static, while, 'stationery' refers to stuff like paper, pens, pencils, etc.

Differences

'Stationery' refers to stuff like pens, pencils, papers, backpacks, etc. while 'stationary' refers to something/someone static and fixed. Look at the examples below:

Example

I can't find the stationery store.

She got on the stationary bus.

Similarities

They are only similar in that they have identical pronunciations.

Are They Interchangeable?

Since they have different meanings, they cannot be used interchangeably. 'Stationary' means static, whereas, 'stationery' refers to stuff like paper, pencil, pen, etc. Compare:

Example

✓ When I was a kid, I used to go to a stationery store on weekends.

X When I was a kid, I used to go to a stationary store on weekends.

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