ESEN
Which one to use?Advancednounnoun
AislevsIsle
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Side-by-side comparison
Aisle
noun"Aisle" is the narrow passage between rows of seats on a plane, in a theater, or in a church. Also the passage between shelves in a supermarket.
She chose an aisle seat so she could stretch her legs on the long flight.
The cereal aisle in the supermarket took up an entire row.
The bride walked slowly down the aisle to the altar.
Isle
noun"Isle" is an island, especially a small or picturesque one. It is used more in poetry and proper names than in everyday speech.
They honeymooned on a tropical isle with crystal-clear water.
The British Isles include the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The Isle of Wight is a popular destination off the southern coast of England.
Common mistake
- •The classic wedding writing mistake: "She walked down the isle" (correct: aisle).
- •"Isle" is an island; "aisle" is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves.
Trick to remember it
- •"Aisle" hides a silent S just like "island" does, because both come from the same Latin root.
- •"Isle" is short and simple, like a small island.
Quick rule
- •Is it the walkway between seats or shelves? "Aisle".
- •Is it a small or literary island? "Isle".
Did you know?
"Aisle" gained its silent S through French influence. In Old French, "aile" meant a wing of a building, the side nave of a church. Medieval scribes added the S by analogy with "isle", even though nobody pronounced it. That silent letter has stuck ever since, a small remnant of centuries of French borrowing into English after the Norman Conquest.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She slowly walked down the _____ at her wedding, smiling at every guest.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
They spent their honeymoon on a small tropical _____ with no electricity.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
AcceptvsExcept
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
AdvicevsAdvise
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
AffectvsEffect
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
AllowedvsAloud
'Allowed' is the past tense of 'allow' (to permit); 'aloud' means making an audible sound.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy