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'Pole' is a long thin rod or the geographical poles; 'poll' is a survey or the counting of votes.
Side-by-side comparison
"Pole" is a long thin rod of wood or metal. Also the North or South Pole. With a capital letter, a person from Poland. "Pole vault" = the athletic event using a flexible pole.
The tent poles collapsed under the weight of the heavy snow.
She wrapped a banner around the flag pole outside the building.
Explorers have reached both the North and South Pole.
"Poll" is a survey of opinion or the counting of votes in an election. "Go to the polls" = go vote. "Opinion poll" = a survey of public opinion. Also the verb to conduct a survey.
The opinion poll showed a ten-point lead for the incumbent candidate.
Voters went to the polls in record numbers despite the rain.
The team was polled on their preferred working arrangements.
Common mistake
"The pole results are in" is the classic slip in news and surveys: it reads fine but makes no sense. If there are votes, opinions or questions, the word ends in a double L: poll.
Trick to remember it
- •"Pole" has OLE like "role" and "stole", objects with shape and function.
- •"Poll" has OLL like "roll" and "toll", processes of counting or collecting.
Quick rule
- •Is it the long rod or geographical pole? "Pole".
- •Is it the survey or vote count? "Poll".
Did you know?
The first major US exit poll was in the 1980 election. Today they are controversial because their predictions can influence voters who have not yet cast their ballot.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The national _____ showed that 60% of people were in favour of the new law.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The flag was hanging from a tall metal _____ outside the building.
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