The words “key” and “quay” sound the same. But while “key” has many meanings in English, “quay” should only be used in one situation. To make sure you don’t get these words mixed up in your writing, check out our advice below.
While it is a simple three-letter word, “key” actually has a lot of meanings and uses in English. Even as a noun, for example, it can refer to:
As a verb, meanwhile, “key” has a handful of common uses, including:
It is also commonly used as an adjective meaning “of crucial importance”:
The key aspect of the plan is timing.
His key argument fell to pieces under scrutiny.
For all of these uses, though, the correct spelling is always “key.”
Thankfully, “quay” is a bit simpler! It is always a noun. And it always refers to a structure by a body of water that ships use for loading and unloading:
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The quay is always busy on a Monday morning.
Moored in the quay, the ship was safe from the storm.
I like to take a walk along the quay on sunny days.
Some people use the term “wharf” to refer to the same kind of structure.
While these words sound similar, they have very different meanings:
Remembering every definition of “key” might be difficult. But as long as you know that a “quay” is a landing place for boats, you can use “key” in all other cases.
And if you want to be sure your writing is error free, our proofreaders can help. Sign up for a trial proofread today and get your first 500 words checked for free.
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