Learn about the difference between the homophones: moat and mote

Definitions

moat

Moat is a noun that refers to a deep, wide ditch surrounding a castle, typically filled with water and intended as a defense against attack.

Example

The moat around the castle was filled with water.

Example

The soldiers patrolled the moat to ensure the castle's safety.

mote

Mote is a noun that refers to a tiny piece of a substance, such as dust or ash, that is floating in the air.

Example

The sunbeam revealed countless motes of dust floating in the air.

Example

She wiped away the mote from her eye.

Tips To Remember the Differences

Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:

- To remember the difference between moat and mote, you can associate moat with a castle and defense, while mote is associated with small particles like dust and ash. - You could also think of moat as having an 'a' for 'around' and mote as having an 'e' for 'element'.