Alter versus Altar – What’s the Gist?
Alter and altar are homophones that are often confused because not only do they sound the same, but they are also spelled almost identically.
- Alter is a verb that means to make a change to something, such as altering a dress to fit the wearer properly.
- Altar is a noun, and it refers to a physical structure.
How to Use Alter in a Sentence
Alter definition. Alter is a verb that means to change or modify an object.
For example,
- Today, the president made a decision that could alter the way the company does business forever.
Alter is occasionally used as an adjective, such as in the phrase alter ego. In this case, the term alter means an alternative, or other.
- The despicable Mr. Hyde was the meek Dr. Jekyll’s alter
How to Use Altar in a Sentence
Altar definition. Altar is always a noun, and it refers to a structure. In ancient times, altars might be made of a pile of rocks, and sacrifices to religious deities took place on these structures.
Today, some churches place altars in front of a preacher’s pulpit, and this structure is an altar, too. Worshippers will pray at these structures. You may also see altar used in the context of wedding ceremonies.
When to Use Altar: Use altar to describe a concrete noun in a place of worship. In addition, the place where two people are married is referred as an altar.
For example,
- The Old Testament tells the story of Abraham being told to place his son Isaac on a sacrificial altar.
- Wesley’s bride got cold feet before the wedding and left him at the altar.
As you can see, an altar is a physical structure that you can see, touch, and feel. This differentiates it from alter, which is simply a verb.
Outside Examples of Alter and Altar
- Ecker is not a conventional coach. He uses biomechanics and other non-traditional means to alter hitters’ approaches at the plate, including their stances, swing patterns and weight distribution. Washington Post
- The suit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco challenges a new federal proposal that would alter operations of massive pumps in the Delta near Tracy. Chicago Sun Times
- When you first walk in, there is an altar that has goddesses of sleep and rest. Chicago Tribune
- The whoops of joy and the chorus of rhythmically-swaying Congolese approaching the altar with symbolic gifts at the Mass’ offertory section made for vivid contrast with the solemnity of most religious ceremonies at the Vatican basilica. New York Times
Phrases that Use Alter and Altar
You will most likely encounter the term alter when you read about a tailor or seamstress making changes to clothing, such as one who makes alterations to a custom-fitting suit or a wedding dress. This word is always a verb.
The term altar is always used as a noun, and although it does refer to a physical structure, it is often used as an idiom. If a prospective bride or groom fails to show up for a wedding, people will say that the individual was “left at the altar.”
How to Remember These Words
Alter and altar are homophones, but the one element that really confuses people about the two words is the virtually identical spelling of the two words.
Alter is a verb, and this version of the homophone is spelled with an “e.” You can remember that the verb version of this homophone uses an “e.”
Altar is a noun, and it refers to a place where a structure sits. Again, you can remember that altar has an “a” in its spelling, and that an altar must have a place in a house of worship.
Article Summary
Is alter or altar correct? Alter and altar not only sound the same, but they are also spelled almost identically. Keeping this in mind, it is important to know the part of speech of the word you wish to use.
Don’t forget that there is also an adjective version of alter, such as when you might discuss an alter ego of a character in a story.
- Alter is a verb, and it refers to changes or modifications one might make to an object.
- Altar is a noun, and it refers to a structure or the place where such a structure might be set up.