Altar or Alter?

by Craig Shrives

Altar or Alter?

What is the difference between "altar" and "alter"?
  • "An altar" is an area of religious worship. For example:
    • We stood at the church altar.
  • "Alter" means to change something.
    • Turn this wheel to alter the ship's course.
altar or alter difference
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More about "Altar" and "Alter"

Occasionally, there is confusion over the words "altar" and "alter."

Click on the Two Correct Sentences
(Interactive Game)

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Altar

The word "altar" is a noun. "An altar" is an area (usually a table) where religious worship or sacrifice occurs.

Examples:
  • The ancient Britons used to sacrifice animals on elaborate stone altars.
  • We were married at the altar in Saint Paul's Cathedral.
  • Have you seen the water damage to the alter in Saint John's Church?
    • (This should be "altar.")

Alter

"To alter" is a verb meaning to change something.

Examples:
  • Will you alter this dress for Saturday's play?
  • Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)
  • Please altar your claim in Section 9.
    • (This should be "alter," i.e., to amend or change.)

Some Images for Altar and Alter


altar in church


eerie sacrificial altar


ladies alter clothes

Common Terms with "Altar" and "Alter"

Common terms with the word "altar":
  • altar boys
  • come to the altar
  • family altar
  • lead to the altar
  • wedding altar
  • witch's altar
Common terms with the word "alter":
  • alter course
  • alter ego
  • alter the dress
  • alter the situation

Most Mistakes Occur with "Altar" not "Alter"

People rarely use "altar" when they mean "alter." It is more common for people to use "alter" when they mean "altar."

In its catalogue, one reputable website calls this piece "Alter of the Hand." Ooops.


"Alter of the Hand"
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? Glossary of easily confused words Glossary of common errors Glossary of grammatical terms What are nouns? What are verbs?