Chord vs. Cord: Striking the Right Meaning

The words chord and cord are homophones: They are pronounced the same way but spelled differently. In addition, they have different meanings:

• chord - several musical notes played together
• cord - a rope or string

When a movie strikes a chord with you, it means that it hit just the right note for you (figuratively speaking). Like the harmony of a musical chord, the movie or message sounded like sweet music.

A chord is a musical term that describe the sound of three or more musical notes played in unison. Musicians who play piano, guitar, xylophone, harmonica, or other related instruments play chords by hitting (or strumming) three notes at once. When used as a verb, chord refers to the act of arranging or playing these notes.

Examples of chord in a sentence include:

• Most pop songs rely on the same four chords for their melody.
• The F chord is considered the most difficult chord to play on guitar.
• President Lincoln's message struck a chord with the Union soldiers.
• I tried to chord the song for the pianist, but it was too tricky.
  
• If your instrument is out of tune, every chord will sound incorrect.

You may be able to hear chords, but you can touch and see cords. Thick ropes, thin strings and electronic wires are all considered types of cords. You also use cord instead of chord when referring to human anatomy (such as spinal cord or vocal cord).

Like chord, it's most common to see cord as a noun, but you can use it as a verb as well ("to attach a cord"). For example:

• The vacuum cord is too short to reach the end of the hallway.
• A fetus receives nutrients from its mother through the umbilical cord.
• Can I use my old phone cord to charge my new phone?
• Please cord the new curtains so that they don't become tangled.
• I injured my spinal cord in the car accident.

If you've mixed up chord and cord, words like accord may further confuse you. It's spelled like cord, but it means "harmony" like chord! Which spelling do you choose?

You're not the only one who's confused. The Old English word accord is related to the modern word chord, which used to be spelled cord. Our modern word cord (meaning "rope") comes from the Greek khordē (meaning "string" or "mathematical line"). In the 18th century, chord and cord were both spelled cord, which was even more confusing. So the spelling for the musical term was changed to chord. That's how accord and chord are related, but not accord and cord.

So if these words have such varying definitions, why do people mix them up? One answer could be the construction of a musical instrument. A guitar plays chords when someone strums its strings — also known as cords. Just this association may be enough to confuse many writers.

Another source of confusion could be the anatomical term vocal cords. These bands of muscle tissue are literal cords in your body, but you use them to sing. This musical connection causes many people to mistakenly write "vocal chords," which is incorrect.

Because chord and cord sound the same, their difference only matters when you're writing the words. Remember these tips when writing chord or cord:

• Use chord for music — both words have five letters.
• Use cord for rope — both words have four letters.
• The "h" in chord stands for "hear," because it's the one you can hear.
• Imagine cord as short for corduroy, and you'll think of fabric.

The next time you're wondering about chord vs. cord, consider what you're describing. If it's related to music, use the word with an "h;" if you can see it and tie it, use cord. That way, your grammar skills can truly sing! For more information about easily confused words, check out the difference between alumni vs. alumnus.