Pole vs. Poll
“Pole” and “poll” are commonly confused sound-alikes with different meanings. “Pole” includes the long-stick/support sense and other established meanings; “poll” is used for surveys, voting, and the collection of opinions or votes.
Use “pole” for a long support and its other established pole senses; use “poll” for an opinion survey or voting-related use.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| long support or another established pole sense | pole | Use “pole.” |
| survey of opinions | poll | Use “poll.” |
| voting or collecting votes/opinions | poll | Use the voting/survey spelling. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the meaning a survey, voting, or collecting opinions?
If yes: Use “poll.”
If no: If the meaning is a long support or another established pole sense, use “pole.”
Examples
The flag hangs from a tall pole.
A physical support takes “pole.”
The survey is an online poll.
An opinion survey takes “poll.”
The organization will poll its members.
The verb for collecting opinions is spelled “poll.”
Further guidance
Context Test
If the sentence is about asking people for opinions or voting, “poll” is the relevant spelling; if it is about a long support or geographic/electrical pole sense, use “pole.”
Core difference
Use “pole” for the physical/support and other established pole senses; use “poll” for surveys, voting, and related opinion/election uses.
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.
- pole — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Definitions and uses of pole
- poll — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Definitions and uses of poll