Sound-alike words
Dual vs. Duel
Dual is an adjective meaning having two parts or two of something. Duel is a fight or contest between two people, or the act of fighting one. A car has dual airbags; two chess players duel.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| dual | adjective | having two parts, uses or roles; double |
| duel | noun | a formal fight between two people, or any close contest between two sides |
| verb | to fight or compete closely with one other person or team |
Dual
adjective: having two parts, uses or roles; double
- Priya has dual citizenship, Canadian and Indian.
- Dev has a dual role on the team as coach and player.
Duel
noun: a formal fight between two people, or any close contest between two sides
- The final turned into a duel between the two fastest runners.
- In the novel, the hero challenges his rival to a duel at dawn.
verb: to fight or compete closely with one other person or team
- The two bakers dueled for first prize at the county fair.
- Rival pizza shops are dueling over who has the best crust.
How to remember the difference
Dual has an a, as in a pair: two of something. Duel has an e, as in enemy: two opponents facing off.
Good to know
Both words are pronounced the same, DOO-ul. American English spells the verb forms of duel with one l: dueled, dueling.
Spot the mistake
The tablet has a
dueldual camera on the back.Correct: The tablet has a dual camera on the back.
The two guitarists had a friendly
dualduel on stage.Correct: The two guitarists had a friendly duel on stage.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. This bike has brakes, one on each wheel.
Answer: dual. The word describes having two of something, so the adjective dual fits.
2. The final set became a tense between the two tennis players.
Answer: duel. This is a close contest between two people, a noun, so duel fits.