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Canvas or Canvass?
What Is the Difference between "Canvas" and "Canvass"?
"Canvas" and "canvass" are easy to confuse because they sound identical. However, their meanings are very different.- "Canvas" is heavy cloth. For example:
- The sails are made of canvas.
- "Canvass" means "to survey opinion" or "to solicit votes." For example:
- I will canvass all the members of my club.

More about "Canvas" and "Canvass"
The words "canvas" and "canvass" are homonyms. More specifically, they are a type of homonym called a homophone (i.e., they sound identical). Nevertheless, 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 typically 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 "to canvass" has four closely related meanings. It can mean:(1) To collect opinions.
- Can you canvass the local area to determine the support for the bypass?
- 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.
- Sarah canvassed every shop in Hull before she found the right shoes.
- The investigation team will canvass the area 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. For example:- 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.
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