Chord vs. Cord How to Choose the Right Word

The words chord and cord are homophones: They sound alike but have different meanings. Theyre among the word pairs in English that are commonly confused, and their spellings have even flip-flopped throughout the centuries. For our purposes in this millennium, though, a chord with an h is a simultaneous playing of notes or a math term, and a cord is a rope or cable—among other meanings. How to Use Chord The noun chord is a musical term and refers to three or more notes sounded together (some musicians might argue for two notes sounded together also being labeled a chord). People play a chord progression, and hard rock guitarists string together some power chords in their riffs. It can be used as a gerund (nouns formed from verbs), referring to the playing of chords, as in Her transposed chording sounded lovely. It can also be used as a verb, meaning to harmonize, as in Your plan chords with [works well with] our overall system. The word comes from the Greek term khordÄ“, which originally referred to the catgut strings on an instrument. Chord also refers to an emotion or disposition (to strike a chord). In mathematics, a chord is a line that joins two points on a curve or circle. It originally came from the Latin term chorda. How to Use Cord The noun cord refers to a rope or a bond, an insulated electrical cable, or an anatomical structure (e.g., vocal cords or umbilical cord). A cord of wood is a rectangular pile of wood 4 feet wide, 4 feet high, and 8 feet long. (Originally it was a quantity that could be tied with a cord.) It can also be used as a verb meaning to stack wood in a cord or to tie something with a cord, though not all dictionaries have usage of this word as a verb. Examples Here are some examples that show the words differences in meaning: One of the most iconic and instantly recognizable chords in rock n roll is the opening to the Beatles song, A Hard Days Night.The candidates policy on health care struck a chord with voters. It especially resonated with middle-class moms.Her chording sounded sublime.Her current activities chord with the companys mission.The singer took lessons to learn how to perform professionally and not strain his vocal cords.Has anyone seen my phone chargers cord?He corded that wood.She corded the roman shade after she finished sewing it. How to Remember the Difference If you need a trick to remember the difference between the two words, think of the fact that musical chords are played in harmony, and both of these words contain the letter h. A cord is a rope, and both cord and rope have only four letters. Practice A wireless mouse operates without a _____ by transmitting radio frequency signals.Jackson sat down at the grand piano and played a major _____. Answers A wireless mouse operates without a  cord  by transmitting radio frequency signals.Jackson sat down at the grand piano and played a major  chord. Sources Chord. English Oxford Living Dictionaries. Oxford University Press.Chord. Marriam Webster, Merriam Webster.Cord. English Oxford Living Dictionaries. Oxford University Press.Cord vs. Chord: What’s the Difference? Writing Explained.Strike a Chord. Cambridge Dictionary.