'Marital' relates to marriage; 'martial' relates to war or the military.
"Marital" is an adjective describing something related to marriage: "marital status", "marital problems".
Please indicate your marital status on the form: single, married, or divorced.
They went to therapy to work through their marital problems.
The couple celebrated twenty years of marital bliss.
"Martial" is an adjective related to war, the military, or combat: "martial arts", "martial law".
She's been practicing martial arts since she was six years old.
The government declared martial law after the coup.
The general reviewed the troops with a martial air of authority.
Common mistake
Mixing them up in writing is common because they sound almost identical: "marital status" has nothing to do with war, it's your marriage status. "Martial law" has nothing to do with marriage, it's military/wartime law.
Trick to remember it
"Marital" has "MAR" like "MARriage". "Martial" has "MART" like "MARS", the Roman god of war: think of Mars for anything military or war-related.
Quick rule
Is it about marriage? "Marital". Is it about war, the military, or combat? "Martial".
Did you know?
"Marital" comes from Latin "maritus" (husband), the same root as "marry" and "marriage". "Martial" comes from Latin "Martialis" (belonging to Mars), the Roman god of war, the same root as "March" (the month dedicated to Mars, when military campaigns began in ancient Rome) and "Mars" (the red planet, named for its blood-like color). The spelling confusion is pure coincidence between two completely unrelated Latin roots.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The form asks for your name, age, and _____ status.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The country has been under _____ law since the military took control.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
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