ESEN
Which one to use?Advancednounnoun
ChordvsCord
'Chord' is a musical combination of notes; 'cord' is a rope, cable, or thick string.
Side-by-side comparison
Chord
noun"Chord" is a musical chord: several notes played simultaneously. Also in geometry, the line connecting two points on a curve.
He struck a simple three-chord progression on the guitar.
The speech struck a chord with the audience, many were visibly moved.
Learning to play guitar chords is the first step for most beginners.
Cord
noun"Cord" is a rope, cable, or string. Also the spinal cord. It has no relation to music.
The charging cord for my laptop is fraying at the connector end.
Tie the package securely with a length of cord before shipping.
Straining her voice repeatedly damaged her vocal cords.
Common mistake
- •"That message struck a cord" when meaning emotional resonance is wrong.
- •"Chord" = the musical combination of notes, and the phrase "strike a chord" (to resonate emotionally).
- •"Cord" = the physical cable, rope, or string.
Trick to remember it
- •"Chord" has CH like "chorus" and "chime", all musical terms with CH.
- •"Cord" has no H: it is a plain physical object.
Quick rule
- •"Chord" = the musical combination of notes (or emotional resonance in "strike a chord").
- •"Cord" = the physical cable, rope, or string.
Did you know?
"Strike a chord" comes from the literal sensation of playing a chord, multiple notes resonating together create a physical vibration you can feel. The metaphor extends to any emotional resonance. In geometry, a "chord" connects two points on a circle by a straight line (different from the arc that follows the curve). In anatomy, the "vocal cords", note: here it is "cord" (physical strings), not "chord".
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She pressed three keys at once and played a beautiful _____ on the piano.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Could you pass me the extension _____? I need to plug in the lamp.
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.
AislevsIsle
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy