Master confusing words with ease
Half-mast vs. Half-staff
Half-mast
/ˈhæf mæst/Examples:
The flags outside city hall flew at half-mast today.The ship's ensign was lowered to half-mast for the service.Schools across the state lowered flags to half-mast in mourning.
Synonyms:
This word has no synonymsAntonyms:
This word has no antonymsHalf-staff
/ˌhæf ˈstæf/Examples:
The national flag was lowered to half-staff to honor the victims.In mourning, city hall raised its flags to half-staff.Flags at government buildings were at half-staff after the announcement.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonymsWays to tell them apart:
- Both terms describe a position of a flag flown below the top of a pole as a sign of mourning or respect.
- Half-mast is typically used in a nautical context, such as at sea or on naval ships.
- Half-staff is the term more commonly used on land for flags on poles.
- Remember, mast sounds like masthead, which is a naval term, reinforcing its connection to ships.
- Staff is part of the word flagstaff, which is a common term for flagpoles on land.
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