Aline or Align – Which Spelling Is Correct? (Examples)

When putting things in line, what’s the correct word to use? Should we say “Aline” or “Align”?

Those two forms sound the same, and we want to know if they’re synonyms, or if one is an incorrect form we should avoid. Let’s take a closer look at these two words.

Aline or Align – Which Spelling Is Correct?

“Align” is the correct word to indicate when two or more things are put together and organized in a straight line. It can be used literally and figuratively, but always with the same spelling. “Aline” is an incorrect spelling of that word, that you should always avoid.

Take a look at the examples:

• Make sure that you properly aline the paintings. (incorrect)
• Make sure that you properly align the paintings.

“Aline” is an incorrect form to write the word “Align”. We understand the confusion because both sound the same and could confound someone who isn’t familiar with the correct spelling. However, it doesn’t make it right.

Always use the correct word, which is “Align”.

Aline

“Aline” is a common misspelling for the word “Align”. It’s incorrect and should be avoided. The only acceptable exception for “Aline” is not connected to the idea of having things in line: it’s about a fashion shape called “A-line”. However, this is not the topic of this article.

Is “Aline” a word we can use? According to The Cambridge Dictionary, it’s not.

Let’s go over some examples that include the incorrect form “Aline”, followed by the corrected version o the same sentence.

1. Is your car in need of alinement? (incorrect)
2. Is your car in need of alignment?

3. You don’t need to do anything fancy, just make sure the columns are alined. (incorrect)
4. You don’t need to do anything fancy, just make sure the columns are aligned.

5. He left the company because his beliefs did not aline with theirs. (incorrect)
6. He left the company because his beliefs did not align with theirs.

7. I found this cute aline dress, and decided to buy it.
8. Aline clothing doesn’t favor all types of bodies.

The examples show the word “Aline” being incorrectly used in different variations, so you can see the difference and compare it with the correct form of the word. In the sentences, we see “Align”, “Alignment” and “Aligned”.

Sentences 7 and 8 show “aline” as the fashion shape, which is a meaning not at all connected to the subject of this article. This is an exception to the rule for this word – rarely used, by the way.

Align

“Align” is the correct form to indicate when things are put together in a straight line. This word and its variations can be used as a verb or an adjective (such as “Alignment”), both figuratively and literally.

As a figurative word, The Cambridge Dictionary defines “Align” as “to be the same or similar or to agree with each other”. It can also mean making two things do the same thing.

This is how to use “Align” in a sentence:

1. Align your feet properly before you lift.
2. Make sure to align the text so the poster doesn’t look wonky.
3. She took her car to the mechanic for an alignment.
4. They were all asked to share their political alignment.
5. You should align yourself with the right kinds of people.

Which Is Used the Most?

Which one of those forms is used more often, “Align” or “Aline”? Let’s take a look at the graph from Google Ngram Viewer below, and see.

“Align” is by a large difference the most used word. It started trending in the early 1900s and, ever since, only grew in usage. It’s the correct form of the word.

“Aline” appears in the graph closer to the bottom and is rarely used. Always remember that the fact that some people use an incorrect form doesn’t make it right. “Aline” isn’t a synonym for “Align” and shouldn’t be used.

Final Thoughts

“Align” is the orthographically correct form for the word that described two things being put together in a straight line. It can refer to literal and figurative things. “Aline” is a common misspelling for this word and, as with any incorrect form, should be avoided and never used.