Angel vs Angle
Published January 17, 2023. Updated January 17, 2023.
Angel and Angle are completely different words though they look very similar. Angel is a heavenly or spiritual being. Angle is the intersection of two straight lines. The pronunciation is quite different too. Angel is pronounced /EYN juhl/ while Angle is pronounced /AN guhl/. The confusion between the two words comes from their spelling. The letters are almost the same. The only difference is the ending: -el versus -le. Which is which and how can you remember?
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Angel (noun)
A representation of a heavenly or spiritual being.
Examples:
I believe my guardian angel is watching over me.
Do you ever feel like you have a good angel on your shoulder helping you make the right decisions?
In the sample sentences above, you can imagine a celestial figure, usually with wings, assisting you when you need help.
Angle (noun)
The intersection of two straight lines.
Examples:
The hike was challenging, with several steep angles of incline.
The room is not a perfect square because no corners are at right angles.
In these examples, an angle is the intersection of two straight lines. In the first sentence, one line would be flat, and the trail’s incline on the hike is the second line. A steep incline of 10 degrees would certainly have you huffing and puffing! In the second sentence, the room’s corners are not at right angles (90 degrees). The room cannot be square if the corners aren’t at right angles. It would be a little wonky.
Main Points
- Angel is a heavenly or spiritual being that is often imagined with wings.
- Angle is the intersection of two straight lines.
- The definitions are clearly different. The pronunciation is clearly different. The confusing part is the spelling.
- Think of Los Angeles, the City of Angels. No one ever misspells Los Angeles as “Los Angles,” right? Use that to help you remember the spelling!