If you are unsure whether to write sentence or sentance, choose sentence. It is the correct spelling in standard American English.
The form sentance is a misspelling rather than a separate word with a different meaning. When you mean a group of words that expresses a statement, question, command, or exclamation, sentence is the form you need.
The same spelling applies in legal contexts. For example, you can write, “The judge gave him a five-year sentence.”
This confusion often happens because the pronunciation does not make the spelling obvious. The middle vowel in sentence is weak in normal speech, so it can be easy to remember the wrong letter.
Quick Answer
Sentence is correct.
Sentance is incorrect in standard English.
| Context | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A group of words expressing an idea | sentence | It is the standard grammatical term. |
| A court-imposed punishment | sentence | This is an established legal meaning. |
| School or academic writing | sentence | It is the standard spelling. |
| Business or everyday writing | sentence | The same spelling applies in all normal contexts. |
| “Sentance” | Do not use it | It is a misspelling of sentence. |
The easiest rule is simple: always spell the word as sentence, with -ence at the end.
Why People Confuse Them
Pronunciation is one reason people mix up these forms.
In American English, sentence is commonly pronounced approximately SEN-tuhns. Because the middle vowel is unstressed, it may not sound clearly like the letter e.
English also has many words that end in -ance and -ence. Consequently, writers may remember the wrong ending when spelling a word from sound alone.
There is an important point to remember, though: sentance does not have a separate standard meaning. It is simply an incorrect spelling of sentence.
Key Differences At A Glance
The difference between the two forms is straightforward.
| Feature | Sentence | Sentance |
|---|---|---|
| Standard English word | Yes | No |
| Correct spelling | Yes | No |
| Grammatical meaning | Yes | No |
| Legal meaning | Yes | No |
| Noun | Yes | No |
| Verb | Yes | No |
| Standard US English | Yes | No |
These are therefore not two interchangeable words. Only sentence is the standard form.
Meaning and Usage Difference
The word sentence has several established uses.
In grammar, a sentence is a group of words that communicates an idea. It can make a statement, ask a question, give a command, or express strong feeling.
For example:
- The students finished their homework.
- Did you call your sister?
- Please close the door.
- What a beautiful day!
The word also has an important legal meaning. A sentence can be the punishment ordered by a court after someone has been convicted of a crime.
For instance:
- The judge gave him a three-year sentence.
- She completed her prison sentence last month.
In addition, sentence can function as a verb in legal contexts. To sentence someone means to officially give that person a particular punishment.
For example:
- The judge sentenced him to five years in prison.
None of these uses takes the spelling sentance.
Pronunciation
The American English pronunciation of sentence is roughly SEN-tuhns.
Because the middle vowel is weak, some people may hear the word differently from how it is spelled. Even so, pronunciation does not change the standard written form.
Tone, Context, and Formality
There is no difference in tone or formality between sentence and sentance.
The correct form, sentence, works in virtually every writing situation. You can use it in school assignments, emails, business documents, casual messages, books, and legal writing.
For example:
Correct:
“Can you check this sentence?”
Incorrect:
“Can you check this sentance?”
An informal message does not make sentance acceptable. The spelling remains incorrect regardless of the level of formality.
Which One Should You Use?
Use sentence whenever you mean the standard English word.
When discussing grammar, you might write:
Please write one complete sentence.
For writing feedback, you could say:
This sentence is too long.
In a legal context, the word works as a noun:
The judge announced the sentence in court.
It can also work as a verb:
The court sentenced him to three years in prison.
Thus, there is no standard situation in which sentance should replace sentence.
When One Choice Sounds Wrong
Although sentance may look familiar, it is not an accepted alternative spelling in standard English.
Consider these examples:
Incorrect:
“I wrote a short sentance.”
Correct:
“I wrote a short sentence.”
The same problem occurs with the plural:
Incorrect:
“The paragraph has six sentances.”
Correct:
“The paragraph has six sentences.”
Legal forms can also be misspelled:
Incorrect:
“The defendant was sentanced to prison.”
Correct:
“The defendant was sentenced to prison.”
Remember that the correct base word is sentence, so related forms keep the same spelling pattern:
- sentence
- sentences
- sentenced
- sentencing
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
Mistake 1: Writing “sentance”
Incorrect:
“She wrote a complete sentance.”
Correct:
“She wrote a complete sentence.”
The problem is the vowel in the final syllable. Use -ence, not -ance.
Mistake 2: Writing “sentances”
Incorrect:
“The essay contains ten sentances.”
Correct:
“The essay contains ten sentences.”
Once the singular spelling is correct, the plural becomes sentences.
Mistake 3: Writing “sentanced”
Incorrect:
“The defendant was sentanced to prison.”
Correct:
“The defendant was sentenced to prison.”
Here, the error comes from carrying the incorrect sentance spelling into the past-tense form.
Mistake 4: Spelling the word only from its pronunciation
The spoken form does not clearly reveal every letter. Instead, remember the written form:
sentence
A useful visual reminder is:
sent + ence = sentence
Everyday Examples
Here are natural examples showing how sentence is used:
- Please read the first sentence again.
- That sentence needs a comma.
- I deleted the last sentence from the paragraph.
- Her opening sentence caught my attention.
- The teacher asked us to write five sentences.
- This sentence is grammatically correct.
- The judge announced the sentence in court.
- He received a two-year sentence.
- The defendant was sentenced to probation.
- The court sentenced him to three years in prison.
In every example, sentence is the correct form.
Dictionary-Style Word Details
Verb
Sentence can function as a verb, especially in legal contexts.
As a verb, sentence means to officially give someone a punishment following a court decision.
Example:
The judge sentenced the defendant to three years in prison.
Its common forms include:
- sentence
- sentences
- sentenced
- sentencing
Sentance is not the standard verb form.
Noun
Sentence is a noun with more than one established meaning.
In grammar, it refers to a group of words that communicates a complete idea or performs a particular function.
Example:
The first sentence of the article explains the main idea.
In law, the noun refers to a punishment imposed by a court.
Example:
The judge imposed a five-year sentence.
By comparison, sentance is not a standard noun.
Synonyms
The best alternative depends on which meaning of sentence you intend.
For the grammatical meaning, statement can sometimes be a close plain alternative, although it cannot replace sentence in every context.
For the legal meaning, punishment can sometimes communicate a related idea. However, the two words are not exact replacements in every sentence.
Because sentance is a misspelling rather than a standard word, it has no valid set of synonyms.
Example Sentences
This sentence has a clear subject and verb.
Please shorten the final sentence.
Sentence — legal noun:
The court announced the defendant’s sentence.
Sentence — legal verb:
The judge sentenced him to two years in prison.
Sentance:
“Sentance” is incorrect; use sentence instead.
Word History
The word sentence has a long history in English. Its development is connected to Old French sentence and Latin sententia, which was associated with ideas such as thought, opinion, judgment, and decision.
Over time, the English word developed several related meanings. These include a judgment or decision and the grammatical use referring to a group of words.
Both the grammatical and legal meanings are established uses of sentence today.
There is no need to treat sentance as a separate historical word. In modern standard English, it is best understood as a misspelling of sentence.
Phrases Containing
Common phrases containing sentence include:
- complete sentence
- long sentence
- short sentence
- simple sentence
- compound sentence
- complex sentence
- sentence structure
- sentence fragment
- run-on sentence
- prison sentence
- life sentence
- five-year sentence
- sentence someone to prison
All of these expressions use sentence, not sentance.
FAQs
Is it sentence or sentance?
Sentence is the correct spelling. Sentance is a misspelling and is not the standard form in American English.
Is “sentance” a correct English word?
No. Sentance is not a standard English word. If you mean a group of words expressing a complete thought or a court-imposed punishment, use sentence.
Why do people spell sentence as sentance?
The pronunciation of sentence can cause confusion because its middle vowel is not strongly pronounced. This can make some people incorrectly remember the spelling as sentance.
How do you spell sentence correctly?
The correct spelling is sentence:
S-E-N-T-E-N-C-E
A useful way to remember it is to focus on the -ence ending.
What does sentence mean?
Sentence commonly refers to a group of words that expresses an idea, question, command, or exclamation. It can also mean a punishment ordered by a court.
What is the plural of sentence?
The plural is sentences.
Example:
“The paragraph contains five sentences.”
Sentances is incorrect.
Is sentence a noun or a verb?
Sentence can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it can refer to a grammatical unit or a legal punishment. As a verb, it means to officially give someone a court-ordered punishment.
Is “sentanced” the correct spelling?
No. The correct past-tense form of the legal verb is sentenced.
Correct: “The judge sentenced him to three years in prison.”
Incorrect: “The judge sentanced him to three years in prison.”
What is the difference between sentence and sentance?
There is no meaning difference. Sentence is the correct standard spelling, while sentance is an incorrect spelling.
How can I remember the spelling of sentence?
Remember that the correct word ends in -ence:
sent + ence = sentence
When writing about grammar or a court punishment, always choose sentence, not sentance.
Conclusion
When choosing between sentence and sentance, use sentence.
The word sentence is the standard spelling for the grammatical term, the legal noun, and the legal verb. On the other hand, sentance is a misspelling and does not represent a different meaning or level of formality.
Pronunciation can make this word confusing because the middle vowel is weak in normal speech. Nevertheless, the written form remains the same:
Sentence = correct
Sentance = incorrect
Whether you are writing an essay, email, message, report, or discussing a legal matter, sentence is the form you should use.
