# Elmer vs emery

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### Elmer
*name · IPA /ˈɛlmɚ/ · frequency rank #22,657*
A surname transferred from the given name.

### emery
*noun · IPA /ˈɛməɹi/ · frequency rank #19,583*
An impure type of corundum, often used for sanding or polishing.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elmer-vs-emery