English UsageComparison guide

Maintenance vs. Maintainance

The standard spelling is “maintenance.” “Maintainance” is a common misspelling influenced by the spelling of “maintain,” but the established noun is spelled with “-tenance.”

Quick answer

Use “maintenance.” “Maintainance” is not the standard spelling.

Key details

Confusion Familyspelling error
Rule Familystandard spelling
Termsmaintenance, maintainance

Further guidance

Error Boundary

The related verb “maintain” does not make “maintainance” the standard noun spelling; use “maintenance.”

Standard Form

Cambridge records the noun as “maintenance.”

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Maintenance — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Dictionary evidence for the standard spelling maintenance.

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