Spelling “Dual” and “Duel”
- Dual with an “a” means “consisting of two elements, aspects, or having two like parts.” Duel with an “e” means “a combat between two people” or “a conflict between people, ideas, or forces.”
- ○ That painting serves a dual purpose—a decorative piece and an entryway to a secret room.
- ○ He challenged his opponent to a duel, as if straight out of a Shakespearean play.
“Dual” vs. “Duel”
Some words are spelled or pronounced similarly but have two different meanings. You can say that these words have dual definitions.
Now, imagine these two words fighting to maintain their honor and declare themselves the stronger, more significant of the two. You can say that these words are in a duel.
Below, we’ll elaborate on the difference between dual and duel, and show you a trick that’ll help you remember how to use these words correctly.
How Do You Spell “Dual”?
Dual is an adjective that describes a noun as “consisting of two elements, aspects, or two like parts.”
The engine had a dual exhaust system.
He held dual citizenship in Germany and Italy.
She has a dual role as both a teacher and guidance counselor.
Technically, the word dual can also function as a noun in the linguistic and mathematical world. However, it’s uncommon to come across dual being used in that manner. It’s almost always used as an adjective, which is how you can check to see if you’re using and spelling it correctly: Does dual function as an adjective in your sentence?
How Do You Spell “Duel”?
There once was a time when two people would compete with each other using weapons to settle a disagreement or defend their honor. These arranged, formal contests were known as duels, spelled with an “e.”
He was seriously wounded in a duel.
However, this type of battle hasn’t been practiced for quite some time, so the word has evolved to mean “a conflict, struggle, or competition between people, ideas, or forces.”
The debate between the candidates turned into a verbal duel.
The top two teams are locked in a duel for first place.
Duel can also function as a verb that means “to fight.”
The contestants of the game show dueled until only one was declared the winner.
Don’t Duel With Spelling and Grammar Errors
All you have to remember to use these words correctly is that dual is an adjective.
Thankfully, gone are the days in which people had to duel to settle disagreements. Gone are also the days in which you have to grapple with spelling and grammar errors. Think of LanguageTool as your knight in shining armor, going to battle for you. This multilingual spelling and grammar checker can correct various errors, provide synonyms to enhance your word choice, and rephrase sentences to better suit your preferred tone and style.
