Is it "cemetery" or "cemetary"?

It's "cemetery" with three Es, not "cemetary" with A at the end. The correct English spelling is always "cemetery" (C-E-M-E-T-E-R-Y). All three vowels are E, not A. Remember: "ThE End of lifE: cEmEtEry (3 Es)" - the phrase highlights the triple-E pattern.

Why do people spell cemetery as cemetary?

People spell "cemetery" as "cemetary" because English has many words ending in ARY (library, dictionary, military), and the vowel pattern in "cemetery" with three Es is unusual. When you say "cemetery," the middle vowel sounds like "uh" (schwa sound), making it unclear whether it's E or A. This leads people to default to the more common ARY ending. The confusion is understandable because the middle vowels are unstressed, but the triple-E pattern is actually consistent once you spot it.

What's the trick to remember cemetery spelling?

Use this spelling trick: "ThE End of lifE: cEmEtEry (3 Es)." This creates a somber, memorable connection between death (the end of life) and the spelling. The emphasis on E throughout makes the triple-E pattern unforgettable. By capitalizing all three Es (ThE End of lifE: cEmEtEry), it makes the triple-E pattern visually and emotionally permanent. When you're writing "cemetery" and hesitate, recall the phrase: "The End of Life" - both words end in E.

What are common misspellings of cemetery?

The most common misspelling is "cemetary" with A at the end instead of the third E, following the more familiar ARY pattern from words like "library" and "dictionary." Other variants include "cementary" (adding an N from confusion with "cement") and "cematery" (wrong vowel placement). The "cemetary" error is widespread because people default to the common ARY ending they see in many other words.

How is cemetery different from graveyard?

Traditionally, a graveyard is a burial ground adjacent to a church, while a cemetery is a standalone burial ground not associated with a church. In modern usage, the terms are often used interchangeably, though cemetery tends to refer to larger, more formal burial grounds. The distinction reflects historical patterns: churches maintained graveyards for their congregations, while municipalities established independent cemeteries to serve broader communities regardless of religious affiliation.

Are there other words with the triple E pattern?

While the triple-E pattern in cemetery is unusual, some related words also have multiple Es: elementary, sedentary, temporary, and secretary. However, cemetery is unique in having three Es with no As, which is why the spelling trick three Es, not As is so helpful. Recognizing this unusual pattern helps prevent defaulting to the more familiar ARY ending found in words like library, military, and dictionary.

How to Spell Cemetery

Q: What is the origin of cemetery?

Cemetery entered English in the late 14th century from Latin coemeterium, which came from Greek koimeterion meaning sleeping place or dormitory. The Greek word comes from koiman (to put to sleep). Early Christians used this euphemistic term for burial grounds, with a focus on the belief in eventual resurrection rather than permanent death. Understanding this etymology helps explain why the word uses E throughout - it connects to the gentle, peaceful imagery of sleep rather than harsh death terminology.

Q: What is the origin of cemetery?

Cemetery entered English in the late 14th century from Latin "coemeterium," which came from Greek "koimeterion" meaning "sleeping place" or "dormitory." The Greek word comes from "koiman" (to put to sleep). Early Christians used this euphemistic term for burial grounds, with a focus on the belief in eventual resurrection rather than permanent death. Understanding this etymology helps explain why the word uses E throughout - it connects to the gentle, peaceful imagery of sleep rather than harsh death terminology.

Is it cemetary, or cemetery?

cemetery

Common Misspellings:

cemetary

A quick spelling trick to help you remember:

Spelling mnemonic for cemetery: ThE End of lifE: cEmEtEry (3 E's) - memory trick to remember triple E

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You're Not Alone

The "cemetary" misspelling is surprisingly common, even among confident writers. The unusual triple-E pattern and the unstressed middle syllables make it easy to default to the more familiar -ARY ending (like library, military, dictionary). This is a natural mistake - and completely fixable with the right memory trick.

Why This Mistake Happens

Vowel reduction (schwa sound): When you say "cemetery," the middle vowels are unstressed and sound like "uh" (cem-uh-ter-ee). This schwa sound makes it unclear whether the vowel is E or A, leading people to guess.

Pattern confusion with -ARY words: English has hundreds of words ending in -ARY (library, dictionary, military, necessary, temporary). Your brain naturally defaults to this more common pattern when uncertain.

Unusual triple-E pattern: Most English words don't have three E's with no A's, making "cemetery" an outlier. The pattern feels counterintuitive, so it's easy to "correct" it to the more familiar -ARY ending.

Word Origin

"Cemetery" entered English in the late 14th century from Latin "coemeterium," which came from Greek "koimeterion" meaning "sleeping place" or "dormitory." The Greek word comes from "koiman" (to put to sleep). Early Christians used this euphemistic term for burial grounds, with a focus on the belief in eventual resurrection rather than permanent death.

Etymology Path:

Greek koimeterion (sleeping place) → Latin coemeterium → Modern English cemetery

The Spelling Trick

"ThE End of lifE: cEmEtEry (3 E's)"

Why it works: This spelling trick creates a somber, memorable connection between death ("the end of life") and the spelling pattern. By capitalizing all three E's (ThE End of lifE: cEmEtEry), it makes the triple-E pattern visually and emotionally unforgettable.

How to use it: When you're writing "cemetery" and hesitate, recall the phrase: "The End of Life" - both words end in E. That same E appears three times in cEmEtEry. The emotional weight of the phrase makes it permanent.

Examples in Context

Formal: "The funeral will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery on Saturday."

Historical: "Arlington National Cemetery honors military veterans."

Literary: "The old cemetery was overgrown with ivy and moss."

Narrative: "She visited the cemetery every Sunday to lay flowers."

Descriptive: "The cemetery gates opened at dawn."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ cemetary - Using A instead of E (most common error, influenced by -ARY pattern)

✗ cemetry - Missing middle E (trying to simplify the pattern)

✗ semetery - Using S instead of C (phonetic spelling)

Quick tip: Think "three E's, no A's." If you remember that "cemetery" breaks the -ARY pattern (library, military, dictionary), you'll never misspell it again. The unusual spelling is what makes it memorable.

Quick Reference

Correct: cemetery

Incorrect: cemetary

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Spelling trick: ThE End of lifE: cEmEtEry (3 E's)

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Frequently Asked Questions

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