canvas and canvass - the difference

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CANVAS / CANVASS

'Canvas' is heavy cloth. 'To canvass' means 'to survey opinion' or 'to solicit votes'.

The words 'canvas' and 'canvass' sound identical, but their meanings are very different.

Canvas

The noun 'canvas' (with one 's' at the end) refers to a heavy woven cloth of hemp, flax or cotton. It is used for sails, tents and paintings. The word 'canvas' is also used figuratively for the floor of a boxing or wrestling ring (i.e., they are often not made of canvas).

Canvass

The verb 'canvass' has several closely related meanings. It can mean:

To collect opinions.

Can you canvass the local area to determine the support for the bypass?

To electioneer (i.e., to collect votes through persuasion of voters in a political campaign).

Mr Millar will arrange for Joan's team to canvass High Street and Bond Street on Saturday. We need as much support from the west side of town as possible.

To examine closely.

Penny canvassed every shop in Wigan before she found the right
shoes.

To ask around.

The investigation team will canvass the neighborhood to see whether there were any witnesses to the crash.

Canvass Used as a Noun

Nowadays, 'canvass' is used as a noun to denote the processes above.

Examples:

Did your canvass of the local area succeed in determining the support for the bypass?

I heard Joan's canvass was postponed due to the storm.

(The noun 'canvassing' is more common that the noun 'canvass'. It would can be substituted into both examples above.)

Select the correct version:

SS = SOLICIT SUPPORT

Use the last two letters of 'canvass' to bring 'solicit support' to mind.

Associated lessons:

What are nouns?
What are verbs?
List of easily confused words