How to Spell Existence
Is it existance, or existence?
Common Misspellings:
📊 One of the most frequently misspelled abstract nouns in English
You're Not Alone
The ENCE vs ANCE confusion affects thousands of writers daily. "Existence" is frequently misspelled as "existance" because the -ANCE pattern is more common in English (importance, distance, balance). Even experienced writers pause when spelling this word. The confusion is completely natural - and easy to resolve with a visual memory trick.
Why This Mistake Happens
More -ANCE words than -ENCE words: English has numerous high-frequency -ANCE words (importance, distance, balance,rance), making -ANCE the default pattern your brain expects. When you encounter "existence," your autopilot wants to spell it with -ANCE.
No phonetic difference: "Existence" and "existance" sound identical in speech. There's no acoustic cue to help you choose the right spelling, unlike words where pronunciation clearly signals the correct letters.
Abstract concept without visual cue: "Existence" is a philosophical abstraction - it doesn't have an obvious visual anchor like "fence" or "science." Without a concrete image connecting it to the -ENCE pattern, the spelling feels arbitrary and hard to remember.
Word Origin
"Existence" entered English in the late 14th century from Old French "existence" and Latin "existentia" (being, existence). The Latin word comes from "existere" meaning "to stand out, emerge, appear, exist," which combines "ex-" (out) with "sistere" (to stand). The philosophical sense of "state of being" developed in the 16th century.
Etymology Path:
Latin existentia → Old French existence → Modern English existence
The Spelling Trick
"The fence proves existENCE"
Why it works: This spelling trick gives you a concrete visual image (a fence) that contains the exact spelling pattern (ENCE) you need for "existence." The phrase suggests that a fence is physical evidence of something's existence, creating a logical connection that reinforces the memory.
How to use it: When you're typing "existence" and hesitate between ENCE and ANCE, picture a fence standing in a field. The fence proves something exists - and "fence" shows you the ENCE pattern. Your fingers will automatically type ENCE instead of ANCE.
Examples in Context
Professional: "The company's existence depends on securing venture capital this quarter."
Casual: "I didn't even know that app was in existence until you mentioned it."
Academic: "Philosophers have debated the nature of existence for millennia."
Technical: "Check for the file's existence before attempting to read it."
Formal: "The treaty acknowledges the existence of disputed territories along the border."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
✗ existance - ANCE instead of ENCE (most common error, pattern-based)
✗ existense - ENSE instead of ENCE (phonetic spelling attempt)
✗ existance - Missing the T (conflation with "instance")
Quick tip: Look at the verb form "exist" - it ends with a T. When forming the noun, keep the T and add -ENCE (not -ANCE): EXIST + ENCE = EXISTENCE. The pattern works for related words too: persist → persistence, insist → insistence.