If you’ve ever had trouble dealing with homophones, don’t worry. You’re not alone. There are a couple of words out there that people get confused with often. Aisle vs isle is one of them. It’s a pretty common mistake since we’re so used to saying these words more than we actually write them. And it’s extra confusing when you use one word more than the other and end up using that word for both meanings. But with this short guide, you won’t have the aisle vs isle confusion anymore.
Aisle
An aisle is a passage that separates two sections, usually rows of seats or shelves. It is often used in supermarkets, churches, theatres, and airplanes.
Examples
- While you’re at the grocery, can you grab me some chips from the snack aisle?
- We had an emotional family moment when my older sister asked both my parents to walk her down the aisle at her wedding.
- Please don’t place your bags near the aisle because someone might trip over them.
- The flight attendant had some trouble maneuvering the snack trolley down the aisle because there was a little turbulence.
- That aisle is blocked off because a shelf fell over.
Isle
Isle is another word for “island” and is usually used to refer to smaller islands. This is used less often than its homophone, aisle since people opt to use the word “island” instead of “isle.”
Examples
- My friend and I plan to visit the British Isles next year.
- What are the three things you wish you would have if you were stuck on a deserted isle?
- Some treasure hunters have been flocking to this recently discovered isle because they think there’s buried treasure hidden there.
- We have this family friend who owns a private isle and we’ve been invited over there for the weekend.
- There was a story on the news about this man who was stranded on this isle for almost a decade.
Aisle vs Isle
Now that you know what each word means, it’s time to figure out how to remember which is which. Thankfully, it’s not that difficult. Here’s a little rhyme that will come useful the next time you get these two words confused:
If it has an A, it’s a passageway. If it starts with an I, it’s land under the sky.
Just remember the rhyme and you’ll never worry about getting a seat by the aisle when you actually meant a window seat overlooking the isle.