Shelf-Shelve | Commonly Confused Words
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Shelf vs. Shelve

Shelf

/ʃelf/
A flat, horizontal surface used to store or display items, often attached to a wall or part of a piece of furniture.

Examples:

There were small black boxes and books on the shelves.There were a few photographs on a shelf over the fire.He fetched them from a shelf and gave them to Valjean.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

This word has no antonyms

Shelve

/ʃelv/
To postpone or decide not to continue with something for now.

Examples:

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Shelf is a noun; picture it as the physical object where you place things.
  • Shelve is a verb; think about it as the action of organizing or arranging books and items.
  • Remember that the e at the end of shelve signals an action, distinguishing it from the noun shelf.
  • When you shelve something, you are actively doing something with a shelf.
  • Shelf ends with f, think of f for furniture, a shelf is a piece of furniture.
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