Peal vs. Peel (Grammar Rules)

This time around, we're looking at two homophones that can be observed using our senses. One is best observed with our eyes, the other with our ears.

So let's look at when to use peal vs. peel.

Peal can be used as a verb or a noun, and, in both cases, it relates to sound. As a noun, it either refers to the loud ringing of bells, or just a loud sound (or series of sounds) in general. As a verb, peal is the act of making that loud sound, whether with bells, a voice, or some other method.

(How to Write Dates Correctly in Sentences.)

Peel can also be used as verb or noun, but it tends to have more to do with the outer layer of things. As a noun, peel is most commonly used to describe the skin or rind of a fruit, such as an orange peel or banana peel. Then, as a verb, peel is used to describe the action of removing the outer layer of something, whether that's to remove the peel of a banana or the dead skin from after a bad sunburn, or even to strip off one's clothes.

Make sense?

Correct: From the other room, he heard the peal of laughter and wondered what was so funny.
Incorrect: From the other room, he heard the peel of laughter and wondered what was so funny.

Correct: She ate the orange and tossed the peel in the trash.
Incorrect: She ate the orange and tossed the peal in the trash.

So I do like to devise tricks for remembering when to correctly use each instance. In this case, I'm going to fall back on a favorite of mine by comparing the spelling of words (and specifically the vowels). Remember: You can see a peel; you hear a peal.

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No matter what type of writing you do, mastering the fundamentals of grammar and mechanics is an important first step to having a successful writing career.

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