The words ‘metre’ and ‘meter’ sound the same, but they can have different meanings depending on which dialect you’re using. Check out our guide below to see how to use these two words accurately in your writing.
In British English and most other English dialects, ‘metre’ is a noun that refers to a metric unit of measurement of length equal to 100 centimetres:
The wall around the fortress was four metres high.
At 1.97 metres, my cousin Jim is an unusually tall man.
‘Metre’ can also refer to the rhythmic structure within a poem. Typically, this relates to the number of syllables within each line and how those syllables are stressed:
The metre of the poem stresses every other syllable in each line.
Poetic metre is often discussed in terms of ‘feet’, but these poetic feet shouldn’t be confused with the imperial unit of measurement!
‘Meter’, meanwhile, is a noun that refers to a tool used to measure and record the quantity or rate of something, such as an electricity meter or a gas meter:
We let the electrician into the house so he could read the electricity meter.
The taxi driver kept the meter running while Jane jumped out of the car.
‘Meter’ also appears as a suffix in the names of some measuring instruments, such as ‘thermometer’ (an instrument used to measure temperature) and ‘odometer’ (an instrument used to measure distance travelled by a vehicle).
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
For any instrument like this, then, the correct spelling will be ‘meter’.
In American English, all the definitions above are spelled ‘meter’:
Tina had only walked about 100 meters when her ankle started to hurt.
Poetic meter is a key component of rhythm in writing.
We need to put another dollar fifty in the parking meter.
This is because US English favours ‘-er’ endings in certain words derived from French. We see the same thing in words like ‘center’ and ‘theater’.
Although these words sound the same, they can have different meanings depending on the context and English dialect used. In British English:
In American English, though, ‘meter’ is the standard spelling in all cases.
Hopefully, it should now be clear how to use ‘meter’ and ‘metre’ in your writing. However, if you would like help to check that your documents are error free, why not try our proofreading service? Sign up today for a free trial to find out more.
Δ
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...
5-minute read
Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...
Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...