In this word confusion spatter vs splatter, it’s the size of the particles that counts.
While both are nouns and verbs (splatter is also an adjective) meaning the act of scattering particles or drops of a substance, it’s most common for spatter to be used as a noun while splatter is more often used as a verb.
Spatter is about small particles or droplets. When used as a noun, it’s usually after it happened.
Splatter is about large particles or drops, making things messier and more chaotic. When used as a verb, it’s usually while it’s happening.
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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| Spatter | Splatter |
|---|---|
 — |
 — |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Noun; Verb, intransitive & transitive
Plural for the noun: spatters Third person present verb: spatters |
Adjective; Noun; Verb, intransitive & transitive
Plural for the noun: splatters Third person present verb: splatters |
| Noun: A spray or splash of something
Verb, intransitive: To send out small particles or drops, as falling water To strike a surface in or as in a shower, as bullets Verb, transitive:
|
Adjective: Characterized by gory violence Noun: Verb, intransitive: Verb, transitive:
|
| Examples: | |
| Noun: She stood clear of the spatter of water that came off the steps. There was a spatter of freckles over her nose. A sharp spatter of shots caused us all to crouch low. “That’s quite a bit of spatter there,” his boss remarked. Verb, intransitive: We listened to the rain spattering on a tin roof. The taxi was spattered with blood. “In the resulting enigmatic dreamscapes, muted purples, cornflower blues and soft ochres bloom and spatter and fleck in surprising, delicate ways” (Vansynghel). Verb, transitive: He spatters grease all over the stove. The dog spattered mud on everyone when he shook himself. |
Adjective: Splatter movies scare me to death. I looked down with dismay at my mud-splattered white suit. The men were dressed in splattered and greasy overalls. Noun: “Hearing a splatter of musketry from the distance, he wondered indifferently if those men sometimes slept” (Crane, ch 13). “When Daughtry opened it, the ancient one blew in upon him along with a gusty wet splatter of the freshening gale” (London). Verb, intransitive: “The afternoon had been dull and cloudy and now as he was passing through a narrow gorge a few great drops of rain began to splatter upon his naked shoulders” (Burroughs). “It didn’t splatter, and resulted in stronger, less brittle, and even crispier slices” (Mainwaring). Verb, transitive: He dropped the bucket, splattering paint everywhere. The story is splattered over pages two and three. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: unspattered Adverb: spatteringly Noun: spatterdash, spatterware |
Adjective: unsplattered |
| History of the Word: | |
| Mid-16th century in the sense splutter while speaking is a frequentative, from a base shared by the Dutch, the Low German spatten meaning burst, spout. | 1775–85; an old portmanteau splash and spatter. |
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!
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Resources for Spatter versus Splatter
Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I will earn a small percentage, if you should buy it. It does not affect the price you pay.
Apple Dictionary.com
Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan the Untamed. Originally published 1920. Wilder Publications, 2015. Ebook.
Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage . Originally published 1895. Warbler Classics, 2024. Print.
Dictionary.com: spatter, splatter
The Free Dictionary: splatter
London, Jack. Michael, Brother of Jerry. Originally published 1917. SeaWolf Press, 2018. Print.
Mainwaring, Rachel and Zahra Mulroy. “This the Simple Ingredient You Need to Cook Perfect Crispy Bacon: It’s a must for the best bacon sarnie.” Wales Online. 24 Mar 2018. Accessed 23 Nov 2024. <https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/simple-ingredient-you-need-cook-14453125>. Article.
Vansynghel, Margo. “From Salvador Dalí to Local Artists, Must-see Seattle Exhibits in May.” Seattle Times. 24 Apr 2024. Accessed 23 Nov 2024. <https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/visual-arts/from-salvador-dali-to-local-artists-must-see-seattle-exhibits-in-may/>. Article.
Pinterest Photo Credits
Spray Paint Spatter by iftarn is under the CC0 1.0 license, via Open Clip Art.
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