Confusing Words: Cavalry (noun) and Calvary (noun)
Meaning:
Calvary (The hill near Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem ) on which Jesus was crucified.)
Cavalry ((in the past) soldiers who fought on horseback.)
Calvary vs Cavalry Clarification: Calvary and cavalry cannot be used interchangeably
Calvary vs Cavalry – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?
As you can see that calvary and cavalry have same set of letters. This is the reason for the confusion between them. Their meanings as well as their functions are totally different from each other. So, you have to be careful with word choice, as, calvary and cavalry are not interchangeable.
I will define these words one by one and use them in example sentences. In this way, it will be easy for you to get the differences between them.
Calvary
Calvary is used as a proper noun within sentences. It means that calvary should be capitalized when used as a proper noun. It is used to refer to the hill on which Jesus was crucified.
• We never missed a rodoe. My father was a trainer of Walking Horses and belonged to the Mounted Calvary, and I was a member of the Junior Riding Club. We were horse people. (Joan Bledsoe)
Other than the above definition, there is also a figurative meaning of calvary. Figuratively, calvary is used to refer an experience of great mental suffering. In this way, you do not have to capitalize the term.
Cavalry
Cavalry is used as a noun within sentences. It is synonymous with mounted troops. At first, cavalry was used to refer to the soldiers who fought on horseback. Now, it has the same meaning as it was in the past but with a slight difference. So, as being in the modern era, cavalry is now used to refer to a modern yet highly mobile armored unit of military troops.
• I was amazed to see a thousand uniformed cavalry standing together in a row.
• Now, judging from their play during the first half of the season, it’s pretty safe to say that the cavalry has officially arrived in Minnesota. (The Hockey Writers)
Got the Difference?
So, calvary vs. cavalry is easily confused because they have same set of letters. The only difference is the placement of ‘l’. So, you have to be careful with word choice. Do not mix them up, as, calvary is a proper noun and cavalry is common.
Calvary = Proper noun (should be capitalized)
cavalry = cannot be capitalized
Calvary should be capitalized when it refers to the particular hill or used as a proper noun.
What Did You Learn?
Calvary and cavalry cannot be used interchangeably. Both are different in terms of meaning, function and even spelling. Calvary is used as a proper noun that is the hill on which Jesus was crucified. Cavalry, on the other hand, is a noun that refers to a modern unit of highly mobile military troops.