Colum vs. Column — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on April 4, 2024
Colum is a common misspelling of Column. Column refers to a vertical support structure or a regular section in a periodical.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Colum or Column
How to spell Column?
Colum
Incorrect Spelling
Column
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Word Familiarity: You read newspaper "columns", not "colums".
Spelling Reminder: Think of the "n" in "Column" as the vertical support that stands at the end of the word.
Definition Check: Only "Column" has a recognized definition in the English dictionary.
Visualization: Picture a column as a tall structure with an 'N' at the top.
Rhyme Association: "Column" rhymes with "dull 'em", not "colum" which might sound like "column" without the 'n'.
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How Do You Spell Column Correctly?
Incorrect: Each colum of the chart represented a different quarter of the year.
Correct: Each column of the chart represented a different quarter of the year.
Incorrect: She leaned against the marble colum, admiring the view.
Correct: She leaned against the marble column, admiring the view.
Column Definitions
A regular section in a newspaper or magazine.
She writes a weekly column on local wildlife.
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member.
A vertical structure usually consisting of a base, a cylindrical shaft, and a capital, used as a support or standing alone as a monument.
Any slender vertical support, as of steel or reinforced concrete.
Something resembling an architectural column in form or function
A column of mercury in a thermometer.
One of two or more vertical sections of text lying side by side in a document and separated by a rule or a blank space.
An arrangement of numbers in a single vertical line.
A feature article that appears regularly in a publication, such as a newspaper.
A formation, as of troops or vehicles, in which all elements follow one behind the other.
(Botany)A columnlike structure, especially one formed by the union of a stamen and the style in an orchid flower, or one formed by the united staminal filaments in flowers such as those of the hibiscus or mallow.
(Anatomy)Any of various tubular or pillarlike supporting structures in the body, each generally having a single tissue origin and function
The vertebral column.
(architecture) A solid upright structure designed usually to support a larger structure above it, such as a roof or horizontal beam, but sometimes for decoration.
A vertical line of entries in a table, usually read from top to bottom.
A body of troops or army vehicles, usually strung out along a road.
A body of text meant to be read line by line, especially in printed material that has multiple adjacent such on a single page.
It was too hard to read the text across the whole page, so I split it into two columns.
A unit of width, especially of advertisements, in a periodical, equivalent to the width of a usual column of text.
Each column inch costs $300 a week; this ad is four columns by three inches, so will run $3600 a week.
(by extension) A recurring feature in a periodical, especially an opinion piece, especially by a single author or small rotating group of authors, or on a single theme.
His initial foray into print media was as the author of a weekly column in his elementary-school newspaper.
Something having similar vertical form or structure to the things mentioned above, such as a spinal column.
(botany) The gynostemium
(chemistry) An object used to separate the different components of a liquid or to purify chemical compounds.
A kind of pillar; a cylindrical or polygonal support for a roof, ceiling, statue, etc., somewhat ornamented, and usually composed of base, shaft, and capital. See Order.
Anything resembling, in form or position, a column in architecture; an upright body or mass; a shaft or obelisk; as, a column of air, of water, of mercury, etc.; the Column Vendôme; the spinal column.
A body of troops formed in ranks, one behind the other; - contradistinguished from line. Compare Ploy, and Deploy.
A number of ships so arranged as to follow one another in single or double file or in squadrons; - in distinction from "line", where they are side by side.
A perpendicular set of lines, not extending across the page, and separated from other matter by a rule or blank space; as, a column in a newspaper.
A perpendicular line of figures.
The body formed by the union of the stamens in the Mallow family, or of the stamens and pistil in the orchids.
One of a series of articles written in a periodical, usually under the same title and at regular intervals; it may be written and signed by one or more authors, or may appear pseudonymously or anonymously, as an editorial column.
A line of (usually military) units following one after another
A vertical glass tube used in column chromatography; a mixture is poured in the top and washed through a stationary substance where components of the mixture are adsorbed selectively to form colored bands
A linear array of numbers one above another
Anything tall and thin approximating the shape of a column or tower;
The test tube held a column of white powder
A tower of dust rose above the horizon
A thin pillar of smoke betrayed their campsite
An article giving opinions or perspectives
A vertical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (as a monument or a column of air)
(architeture) a tall cylindrical vertical upright and used to support a structure
A vertical architectural structure that supports a building.
Ancient Greek temples are known for their ornate columns.
A vertical division of facts or figures in a table or list.
The spreadsheet has a column for each month.
A formation of troops or vehicles in a line.
The soldiers marched in a column.
A vertical cylindrical object.
The tall column of smoke could be seen from miles away.
Column Meaning in a Sentence
She organized her contacts into a column alphabetically.
The ancient column stood tall, despite centuries of weathering.
The newspaper featured her article in its weekly opinion column.
The column of smoke rising from the chimney could be seen for miles.
Engineers calculate the load that each support column can bear.
The marching band moved in a column down Main Street during the parade.
Each column in the database stored a different attribute of the users.
The spreadsheet included a column for notes next to each entry.
The teacher explained how to add the numbers in a column to get the total.
She highlighted the column in the document to emphasize the key points.
In the ruins, the column bases suggested a grand temple once stood there.
The newsletter's advice column is always the first section I read.
Traffic was blocked by a column of protesters marching through the city.
The teacher used the column method to teach addition and subtraction.
A stone column at the entrance bore the inscription of the founder's name.
She added a new column to the table to track expenses more accurately.
For his project, he wrote a column comparing different superhero movies.
A water column supports aquatic life at various depths.
He wrote a weekly sports column for the local newspaper.
A decorative column added elegance to the otherwise modern room.
The journalist's column on environmental issues won her an award.
The column of ants marching towards the picnic was hard to ignore.
Column Idioms & Phrases
A column inch
A unit of measurement for the amount of printed material in a column by its height in inches.
The editor decided to give the story four column inches in the newspaper.
Column rule
The line that separates columns of text in a printed page.
The designer used a decorative column rule to enhance the layout of the magazine.
Column fodder
Material or information considered suitable for filling up space in a newspaper or magazine column, often implying it's of little real importance.
The celebrity gossip was just column fodder to entertain the readers.
Fifth column
A group within a country at war who are sympathetic to or working for its enemies.
The spy was considered part of a fifth column, undermining the nation's efforts during the war.
To column off
To organize or separate information into columns.
For clarity, we'll column off the data by month and region.
Common Curiosities
What is the root word of Column?
The root word is the Latin "columna."
What is the pronunciation of Column?
It's pronounced as "KOL-uhm."
Which vowel is used before Column?
Typically, "a" as in "a column."
What is the verb form of Column?
"Column" itself doesn't have a verb form. However, related actions might be "columnize" or "arrange in columns."
Which preposition is used with Column?
"In" as in "in the column."
What is the plural form of Column?
Columns.
Is Column an adverb?
No, Column is not an adverb.
Is Column a negative or positive word?
Neutral; it's descriptive.
Is Column a noun or adjective?
Column is primarily a noun.
Why is it called Column?
It originates from the Latin word "columna", meaning "pillar."
Is the word Column is imperative?
No, Column is not imperative.
What is the singular form of Column?
Column.
Which conjunction is used with Column?
Any conjunction can be used, depending on sentence structure.
Is Column an abstract noun?
No, it's primarily a concrete noun.
Is Column a countable noun?
Yes, you can have one column, two columns, etc.
Is the Column term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but it can be used metaphorically.
Is the word “Column” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be either, depending on sentence structure.
What is another term for Column?
Pillar or post.
Which determiner is used with Column?
Determiners like "the," "a," or "an" can be used.
Which article is used with Column?
"A" or "the" can be used, depending on the context.
Is Column a vowel or consonant?
"Column" is a word composed of both vowels and consonants.
Is the word Column is Gerund?
No, Column is not a gerund.
What is a stressed syllable in Column?
The first syllable "Col" is stressed.
What is the opposite of Column?
In architectural terms, a beam (horizontal counterpart).
Is Column a collective noun?
No, it's not a collective noun.
How many syllables are in Column?
There are two syllables.
What is the first form of Column?
Column, being a noun, doesn't have verb forms like first, second, or third.
What is the third form of Column?
N/A (see previous answer).
How do we divide Column into syllables?
Col-umn.
What part of speech is Column?
It's a noun.
What is the second form of Column?
N/A (see previous answer).
How is Column used in a sentence?
The old mansion had large stone columns at the entrance.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
