Word Confusion: Stratagem versus Strategy

Posted November 9, 2021 by Kathy Davie in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

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Stratagem and strategy are both about plans of action.

Strategy is simple and straightforward, intended to achieve a competitive advantage.

Stratagem is about trickery, a scheme to deceive or outwit, intended to achieve an advantage over a competitor, sometimes by misdirection.

And, do note the second a in stratagem.

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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Stratagem	Strategy
Smiling Woman Embracing Boyfriend in Swimming Pool by Artur Verkhovetskiy is in the public domain, via DepositPhotos.com. — It’s all part of her stratagem to snag her man.	Boy Analyzing Chess Board is in the public domain, via Piqsels. — It’s a game of strategy.
Part of Grammar:
Noun Plural: stratagems	Noun Plural: strategies
A plan, trick, or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent, adversary, competitor, or achieve an end [Archaic] Skill in devising plans or schemes Cunning	A plan of action, policy, method, or series of maneuvers or stratagems designed to achieve a major or overall aim [Mass noun] The science or art of combining and employing the means of war in planning and directing large military movements and operations The use or an instance of using this science or art [Count noun] A plan for military operations and movements during a war or battle Skillful use of a stratagem
Examples:
She had devised a series of devious stratagems. Whether his resignation was tendered because of petulance or careful stratagem, he now has a real measure of the Government’s dependence on him. Jed possessed not an inkling of the tact and stratagem of his father, and so their coming was long awaited. If we are to survive, we need to change our business stratagems.	It was past time to develop a coherent economic strategy. Shifts in marketing strategy finally brought us into the green. He was a genius when it came to military strategy. We need some nonprovocative defense strategies. The salesperson’s strategy was to always seem to agree with the customer. We need a strategy for getting ahead in the world.
Derivatives:
Adjective: stratagemical Adverb: stratagemically	Noun: strategics
History of the Word:
Late 15th century, originally denoting a military ploy, is from the French stratagème, via the Latin from the Greek stratēgēma, from stratēgein meaning be a general, from stratēgos meaning general, from stratos (army) + agein (to lead).	Early 17th century, denoting an army, government, or province under the command or rule of a general, which is from the Greek stratēgia meaning generalship, province governed by a general, and is from stratēgos meaning general.

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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.

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