Revised as of
8 July 2023
The question of mantel versus mantle came up in a book I was editing, and I found myself questioning which was which. As usual, one of the words is a variant on the other and can be used in either situation . . . if you’re writing about a fireplace!
Anything else will use mantle.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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Mantel | Mantle |
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Part of Grammar: | |
Noun
Plural: mantels A variant of mantle |
Noun; Verb, intransitive & transitive
Plural for the noun: mantles Third person present verb: mantles |
A wood or stone construction framing the opening of a fireplace and usually covering part of the chimney breast in a more or less decorative manner
A shelf above a fireplace opening |
Noun: A loose sleeveless cloak or shawl, worn especially by women
[Geology] The portion of the earth, about 1,800 miles (2900 km) thick, between the crust and the core Verb, intransitive:
[Of a bird of prey on the ground or on a perch] Spread the wings and tail, especially so as to cover captured prey Verb, transitive:
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Examples: | |
The stockings were hung from the mantel for Santa to fill.
A mantel shelf is a beautiful showcase for trophies. River rocks and an ancient beam make up the mantel in their mountain home. |
Noun: The houses were covered with a thick mantle of snow. She caught up her mantle, swirling it around her shoulders before she stepped out of the house. Turn up that mantle on the lantern. We need more light. The second son has now assumed his father’s mantle. Rule carries the mantles of two clans. Verb, intransitive: Getting a proper mantle of froth on a Guinness involves a precise process. When mantling, feeding birds may exhibit other nervous behavior including frequent looks at the surrounding area to scan for intruders or shuffling feet to continually readjust the mantling cover to disrupt views from different directions. Verb, transitive: A warm pink mounted to the girl’s cheeks and mantled her brow. |
Derivatives: | |
Noun: mantel shelf, mantelpiece, mantelshelf | Adjective: unmantled Noun: gas mantle, mantling |
History of the Word: | |
From Old English mentel, from the Latin mantellum.
1480-90 as a shortened form of the Middle English mantiltre meaning mantletree, from the earlier mantell, mantelet. Mid-16th century, as a specialized use of mantle. |
Before 900.
Middle English mantel, from the Old English mæntel, which is from the Latin mantellum meaning cloak, reinforced in Middle English by the Old French mantel. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Mantel versus Mantle
Apple Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com: mantel and mantle
Pinterest Photo Credits
Flux of Crustal Material in the Mantle by Erin Walde is under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. Stone Mantel, 16th Century is Daderot‘s own work courtesy of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and is under the CC0 1.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons.