A pole can be a long, slender rod that holds or supports something. A poll can be a survey or a vote. To poll people is to ask for their opinions or collect their votes.
Choose a rod, a survey, or the act of asking
- Pole. The tent stayed upright after we replaced a broken pole. The pole supports the tent.
- Poll as a noun. A library poll found that patrons wanted longer weekend hours. The poll was a survey.
- Poll as a verb. The library will poll patrons again in June. Staff will ask patrons what they think.
Recognize the spelling in common phrases
At the polls means at the places where people vote. In The polls close at eight, the sentence tells voters when voting ends. In North Pole and South Pole, pole refers to one of the two points where Earth’s axis meets its surface.
These words are homophones. For another pair that can refer to civic institutions, see Counsel vs. Council.
