Is It Pricey Or Pricy? Here’s The Correct Spelling (+10 Examples)

When you’re converting a word like “price” into the adjective form, it can be pretty confusing knowing whether you keep the “e” or drop the “e” or do something else entirely. So, how do you spell pricey, and how can we remember the language rules associated with it, so we don’t worry about mistakes in the future.

Is It Pricey Or Pricy?

The correct spelling is both pricey and pricy. It doesn’t matter whether you spell pricey with an “e” or without, although “pricey” has become the more common and popular variation of the two spellings. In the past, “pricy” was the more common way to spell the word, and “pricey” is only a more recent language development. However, many people prefer the look of “pricey” when written down, which is why it’s a common choice.

Which Grammatical Rule Is Applied When Turning “Price” Into Pricy Or Pricey?

When you’re turning “price” into “pricey,” one simple grammatical rule is followed. Basically, if the word ends in the letter “e,” then you should drop the “e” and replace it with a “y” when you want to turn it into its adjective form. This same rule applies to all words in the English language.

Slime – Slimy

Smile – Smily

Ice – Icy

But “pricey” comes with an exception, and more people are happier to accept it with the “e” and the “y” at the end.

What Is The Meaning Of Pricey Or Pricy?

Now that we’ve learned how to spell pricey, it’s time to look at the meaning. Both words mean the same thing, and they’re used to show that something is expensive. It almost always refers to a monetary value, but whether something is pricey or pricy, it means it’s a costly investment for whoever is talking about it.

5 Examples Of How To Use Pricey

Now let’s look at a couple of examples of when you can use “pricey” in a sentence. Remember, it doesn’t matter how you spell it; it just depends on which variation you’re more inclined to use. “Pricey” is the newer, more accepted way to spell it.

• That television set is pricey.
• The restaurant is too pricey for me.
• That service was far too pricey.
• That’s quite a pricey console.
• I’ve never seen a more pricey holiday destination.

5 Examples Of How To Use Pricy

Now, let’s look at some examples of when to use “pricy.” Again, the two words are interchangeable, so these examples will sound the same regardless.

• That washing machine is pricy.
• The hotel is too pricy for me.
• The warranty was far too pricy.
• That’s quite a pricy collection.
• I’ve never seen a more pricy resort.

Historical Development In The Use Of Pricy Vs Pricey

Historically, “pricy” has been the common way to spell the adjective form. Its usage can be dated back to the early 1800s, when the modern-day English language was still fairly new. It followed the same grammatical rules that all words ending in “e” followed and made the most sense.

However, it didn’t take long for people to start phasing out the word. Around the 1930s, the first recorded use of “pricey” was seen, and people began to accept that as the universal way to spell the word. Both variations are still used today, but it’s much more common to see “pricey” in most situations, and it’s the spelling that is taught mostly to people learning the language.

How To Remember The Difference Of Pricey Vs Pricy

Remembering the difference between the two words isn’t all that tricky now that we know they mean the same thing. It doesn’t matter which way you spell it since either way will work. However, if you want to keep up with modern language rules, then you’ll be better off using “pricey.” The easiest way to remember this is to add a “y” to the end of “price” to turn it into its adjective form.

Alternatives To Pricy Or Pricey

And finally, if you’re not sure which variation will be better for you, you have one final choice! You can look for an alternative that you can write instead, so you don’t have to worry about incorrect spelling.

• Expensive
• Costly
• Dear
• Overpriced
• Exorbitant