Sound-alike words

Weather vs. Whether

Weather is the state of the air outside: rain, sun, wind and temperature. Whether is a conjunction that introduces a choice or a yes-or-no question, as in I don't know whether to stay or go.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
weather	noun	the conditions outside at a given time, such as heat, cold, wind or rain
weather	verb	to get through a hard time safely, or to change from being out in the air and sun
whether	conjunction	used to introduce a choice between options, or an indirect yes-or-no question

Weather

noun: the conditions outside at a given time, such as heat, cold, wind or rain

The weather turned cold after lunch.
Bad weather delayed our flight by two hours.

verb: to get through a hard time safely, or to change from being out in the air and sun

The small shop weathered the slow winter months.
The wooden deck has weathered to a soft gray.

Whether

conjunction: used to introduce a choice between options, or an indirect yes-or-no question

Ask Omar whether he wants pizza or tacos.
We'll go hiking whether or not it rains.

How to remember the difference

Weather has eat inside it: you eat outside when the weather is nice. Whether starts with wh, like which and what, words that ask questions.

Good to know

Many writers use if for whether, as in ask if he is coming, which is fine in everyday writing. Or not can usually be dropped after whether (I wonder whether it will rain), but keep it when you mean regardless: we will play whether or not it rains.

Spot the mistake

I can't decide ~~weather~~ whether to take the bus or walk.
Correct: I can't decide whether to take the bus or walk.
The ~~whether~~ weather is supposed to be sunny all weekend.
Correct: The weather is supposed to be sunny all weekend.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. Check the forecast to see what the will be like for the picnic.

2. Hana couldn't decide to order soup or salad.