Today, I’m going to discuss three commonly confused words: palate, palette, and pallet. I’ll also give you some tips to remember how to spell each word correctly.
Palate
Here’s the definition of palate (from Merriam-Webster):
- palate: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity
Palate can also refer more generally to the sense of taste (as in the phrase, “serves Korean food adapted for the American palate”).
How to Remember Palate
That food you ate was pleasing to your palate. Palate contains the word ate.
Palette
Here’s the definition of palette (from Merriam-Webster):
- palette: a thin oval or rectangular board or tablet that a painter holds and mixes pigments on
Palette can also refer to a range of elements (other than paint). For example, the Laredo Morning Times recently used the headline, “Jack White expands palette on solo tour,” meaning that the former White Stripes guitarist drew from a range of musical styles.
How to Remember Palette
The suffix -ette (“little”) is common in French, and there are many famous French painters. Imagine a French painter mixing colors on a palette.
Pallet
Here’s the definition of pallet (from Wiktionary):
- pallet: a portable platform, usually designed to be easily moved by a forklift, on which goods can be stacked for transport or storage
How to Remember Pallet
You can use a wooden pallet as firewood. But first, you need to break it up with a mallet. Pallet is spelled like mallet.
About Editor’s Corner
Editor’s Corner keeps your communication skills sharp by providing information on grammar, punctuation, JHA style, and all things English. As editors, we spend our days reading, researching, and revising other people’s writing. We love to spend a few extra minutes to share what we learn with you and keep it fun while we’re doing it.
Did someone forward this email to you? Click here to subscribe.
Don’t want to get Editor’s Corner anymore? Click here to unsubscribe.
Do you have a question or an idea for Editor’s Corner? Send your suggestions or feedback to Kara, <a href="mailto:DBurcher, Jackie, or <a href="mailto:BRitter.
Ben Ritter | Technical Editor | Symitar®
8985 Balboa Avenue | San Diego, CA 92123
619-682-3391 | or ext. 763391 | www.Symitar.com
Symitar Documentation Services
NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.
Editor's Corner 
Leave a Reply