The Quick Distinction
- Pole: a long, slender rod or post; the geographic or magnetic extremes of the Earth; a person from Poland (in some uses)
- Poll: a survey of opinions; the process of voting; the top of a person's head; to survey or cut
Pole: Rods, Ends, and Extremes
Pole is primarily a noun with several distinct uses.
A long cylindrical rod or post:
- The flag hung from a tall pole outside the building.
- Workers installed the telephone pole along the road.
- She cleared the high-jump bar using the fiberglass pole. (pole vault)
- A curtain pole runs across the top of the window.
The geographic or magnetic extremes of the Earth:
- Amundsen's expedition was the first to reach the South Pole.
- The magnetic north pole shifts position over time.
- Temperatures at the pole can drop below minus 40 degrees.
Figuratively, poles apart means completely opposite in views or character:
- The two proposals were poles apart in their approach.
Related compounds: pole vault, pole star (Polaris), totem pole, tadpole, poll-axe (variant spelling).
Poll: Surveys, Votes, and the Top of the Head
Poll functions as both a noun and a verb.
As a noun — a survey or vote:
- The latest poll showed the candidates within two points of each other.
- An exit poll was conducted outside the voting center.
- A poll of employees showed widespread support for the new policy.
- Voters went to the polls in record numbers. (polls as the place of voting)
As a verb — to survey opinions or to receive a number of votes:
- Researchers polled 1,500 adults across the country.
- The candidate polled 34 percent in the preliminary survey.
- The company polled its customers on the proposed changes.
As a noun — the top of the head (archaic or specialized use, as in poll tax):
- A poll tax was historically levied per person. (per head)
As a verb — to cut or trim (specialized, usually trees or horns):
- The trees had been polled to encourage new growth. (pollarded)
- Polled cattle are cattle that have had their horns removed or lack horns naturally.
Common Errors
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| The survey polled results for three questions. → correct usage | Correct |
| The flag hung from a poll. | The flag hung from a pole. |
| Voters went to the poles. | Voters went to the polls. |
| The two plans are polls apart. | The two plans are poles apart. |
Memory Trick
Poll — think of "opinion poll." Both "poll" and "opinion" are used in the same phrase, and both relate to asking people questions. The double l in poll can remind you of "collect" — collecting opinions.
Pole — think of "North Pole." The geographic poles have only one l, like the word "pole" itself. Or think of a flagpole — a vertical stick with one l.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a "polling station"?
A polling station (or polling place) is the location where voters go to cast their ballots in an election. The word polling here comes from poll in its voting sense — it uses two ls.
Is "straw poll" or "straw pole"?
Straw poll — it is an informal survey of opinions, not a physical post. The "straw" refers to informality or superficiality (like testing which way the wind is blowing with a piece of straw). Always spelled with poll.
What is pole position in racing?
Pole position refers to the front-of-the-grid starting position in motorsport, given to the driver with the fastest qualifying time. It uses pole, not poll — the term originates from the pole placed at the front of a horse racing track's starting line.