Stationary and Stationery
The words stationary and stationery sound almost identical, but they are very different in meaning.
1. Stationary
Stationary means not moving or still. (It can be used as an adjective or an adverb.)
Examples:
We had to wait patiently in a stationary position for the school shop to open. (Stationary is an adjective in this example).
We had to wait stationary for the school shop to open. (Stationary is an adverb in this example.)
The hostages were ordered to remain stationary.
2. Stationery
The word stationery (with an e) means writing and office supplies (e.g., writing paper, envelopes, pens). (It can used an an adjective or a noun.)
Examples:
The office junior is in charge of ordering our stationery. (Stationery is a noun in this example.)
The office junior is in charge of filling the stationery cupboard. (Stationery is an adjective in this example.)
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