Jail-Prison | Commonly Confused Words

Jail

/dʒeɪl/

A place where people are kept when they have been arrested or are waiting for trial and as punishment for crimes

Courts and jails!He wished he could have had Oliver jailed as a thief.If they capture her, they'll take her to the jail."

/ˈprɪzən/

A place where people are kept as punishment for a crime.

He ended his days in prison.I help to pay for the workhouses and prisons.I have to stay in this prison.'

Remember that prison and jail both hold people, but the size and severity differ.
Think of prison as a place for serious offenders and longer sentences.
Remember jail as a closer, quicker, temporary stop before trial or minor offenses.
Prison is larger and usually run by the state or federal government.
Jail is smaller and often run by local authorities like counties or cities.