Ax or axe: if you’ve ever held this tool in your hand or even seen one in a movie, you may have wondered which is the correct way to spell it. Worry not—the truth is that both spellings are correct, and they are exactly the same in meaning and pronunciation. But what is the dominant spelling in American English? Keep on reading!
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What is an Ax?
An ax is a tool used to chop things, usually lumber (wood). It has a long handle and a heavy metal blade protruding from its top.
An ax is not the same thing as a pickax—while the former has a broader, flatter blade coming out of only one side of the handle, the latter typically features two sharp, symmetrical protrusions at the top.
What’s the etymology of the word ax? Well, it has its roots in old English, where the word “æces “was once used to describe this type of tool.
Interestingly, an ax can be both a noun and a verb—we’ll explore this further down in this article.
Examples:
- He sharpened his ax so it would make clean cuts in the tree bark.
- No matter how hard he hacked at the rock with his ax, nothing budged.
- Want to go drink some beer and throw axes? I know this cool spot downtown.
- Watching the new homeowners ax my favorite old tree was not fun.
- Be careful when using an ax or else you could hurt somebody.
- The suspects were caught carrying an axe.
- The district council axed the complaint last month.
- Local residents say that there was an axe murderer roaming around the neighborhood.
- BBC News reported that the axe murderer was finally caught late Friday night.
When and How to Use the Word Ax?
Ax and axe are both nouns and verbs. As a noun, ax/axe refers to the actual tool that you would use to chop something. On the other hand, as a verb, ax/axe refers to the action of using an ax/axe.
For example, you might say:
I bought a new ax at the hardware store yesterday. Today, I'm going to use it to ax some pesky trees that are cluttering my yard. In this example, you’ve used ax as a noun first and then as a verb.
Tip: If you come across the common expression “an axe to grind,” it’s an idiom referring to having an ulterior motive.
Ax or Axe: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to ax and axe, there is no real difference between these words, except for the letter “E” at the end. So the next time you’re worried about choosing the right one, just take a deep breath and remember that you can’t go wrong no matter which version you choose.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Many sources claim that the shorter spelling variation (ax) is the most common spelling in the United States, while English-speaking countries outside of North America use “axe.” While it may be true that “ax” is the preferred American spelling more than other English speakers, such as people who speak British English, “axe” is very common in the US, too.
With no strict rules or guidelines in place, it’s best to choose the spelling you like better.
Trick to Remembering the Correct Spelling
Since both versions are spelled correctly, you don’t need to choose between ax or axe. To help yourself remember that both versions are correct, picture an axe chopping the “e” off the end of this word.
Now remember that whether the axe in your imagination chops the “e” off or lets it stay, both ways of spelling the word are entirely okay.
Tip: “Ax” is the preferred spelling in AP Stylebook.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in America, more people have a slight preference for “ax” spelling, but if you’re in a country full of people who speak British English, you might feel more comfortable opting for the longer “axe” spelling. All in all, you don’t ever need to stress over choosing between an ax or axe—because both versions are 100% correct, and they mean the same thing.
