Revised as of
4 Oct 2022
It’s easy to understand how stamp and stomp get confused, since stomp is an American variant of the former. Except. Yes, there’s almost always an exception.
Stomp is limited to an action, a step. And remember that the noun form of stomp still refers to the dance steps.
So don’t go mixin’ up stamping an envelope, typeclassing someone, crushing ore, or legitimizing a visit to another country with stomping.
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.
If you found this post on “Stamp versus Stomp” interesting, consider tweeting it to your friends. Subscribe to KD Did It, if you’d like to track this post for future updates.
| Stamp | Stomp |
|---|---|
Thai Postage Stamp First Issue is Lerdsuwa’s own work and is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. |
Marines Stomp Combat Boot by Pfc. Monroe F. Seigle is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. — Despite the title, this is part of a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training program in which an axe stomp is one of the moves. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Noun; Verb, intransitive & transitive Plural for the noun: stamps Third person present verb: stamps |
Noun 1 and 2; Verb 3, intransitive & transitive 4 Plural for the noun: stomps Third person present verb: stomps |
| Noun: An instrument for stamping a pattern or mark, in particular an engraved or inked block or die
A small adhesive piece of paper stuck to something to show that an amount of money has been paid, in particular a postage stamp
An act or sound of stamping with the foot A block for crushing ore in a stamp mill Verb, intransitive:
Verb, transitive:
Impress a pattern or mark, especially an official one, on a surface, object, or document using an engraved or inked block or die or other instrument
Affix a postage stamp or stamps onto a letter or package Crush or pulverize ore |
Noun: [Informal; in jazz or popular music] A tune or song with a fast tempo and a heavy beat 1
A student who wears cowboy clothing and boots 2 Verb, intransitive:
Verb, transitive:
To assault viciously 4
|
| Examples: | |
| Noun: Has anyone seen my return address stamp? You should see Margaret’s collection of stamps! I know, I know. It’s an obsession of mine to collect visa stamps in my passport from all over the world. The Stamp Act gave impetus to the Revolutionary War. The emperor gave them his stamp of approval. The whole project has the stamp of authority. The empiricism of this stamp has been especially influential in British philosophy. I’m sorry, but this package requires a first-class stamp. He was a great man who left his stamp on legal procedure. Florence Nightingale was a woman of serious stamp. Miriam feared the stamp of boots on the bare floor. Roman mines saw the widest application of stamp mills in ancient times. Verb, intransitive: John stamped off, muttering. Verb, transitive: Robertson stamped on all these suggestions. She stamped the snow from her boots. The woman finally stamped my passport. Each key has a number stamped on the shaft and can only be replicated at the dealership. It’s one of those records that has classic stamped all over it. The knives are stamped out from a flat strip of steel. His style stamps him as a player to watch. Annie stamped the envelope for her. The mill is stamping out 40 tons of ore a day. |
Noun: The jitterbug is an excellent example of stomping. Nritta and Kathakali are examples of classic Indian dances that include stomping. Ragtime, swing, Dixieland, and boogie woogie involve vigorous stomping. Many tribal dances involve stomping one’s feet. Despite their cries for individuality, hippies put down fellow students, stomps, for their clinging to the 1940s and 50s fashions for Western wear. Verb, intransitive: I stomped on the accelerator. Stomping with clogs can be energizing or exhausting. Verb, transitive: People were standing around, stomping their feet, and rubbing their hands. The little boy stomped his feet and screamed at his mother. The crowd stomped their feet to show their approval. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: nonstampable, stampable, stampless Noun: prestamp, stamper Verb, transitive: misstamp, prestamp |
Adjective: stompy Noun: stomper |
| Phrasal Verb | |
| stamp something out | |
| History of the Word: | |
| Middle English, in the sense of crush to a powder, is of Germanic origin and related to the German stampfen meaning stamp with the foot. This is reinforced by the Old French estamper meaning to stamp. |
|
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 Stamp versus Stomp
Apple Dictionary.com
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Jitterbug Wolcott FSA by Marion Post Wolcott and Ev’rybody Shimmies Now are lyrics by Eugene West and music by Joe Gold and Edmund J. Porray (University of Colorado). Both are in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
