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'Chord' is a musical combination of notes; 'cord' is a rope, cable, or thick string.
Side-by-side comparison
"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" 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
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy