Grammar Tips & Articles »

Bellow vs. Below

This Grammar.com article is about Bellow vs. Below — enjoy your reading!


1:49 min read
28,804 Views
  Marius Alza  —  Grammar Tips
Font size:

How often do you find yourself wondering whether you should spell "below" or "bellow" while writing something? If you have seen this word spelled in both forms, chances are you got confused and you are not sure anymore about which one is correct.

Find out what each form means and how to spell it correctly according to the message you want to express.

Bellow vs. Below

"Bellow" is a verb referring to the action of shouting really loudly. Moreover, spelled like this, the word is also frequently used as a noun and refers to a powerful roar of an animal or a very loud noise similar to roaring.

On the other hand, "below" represents something completely different. This is actually a preposition indicating the position of something, its lower placement in comparison to another object or person. At the same time, the same preposition can be used with the sense of "less".

When do we use "bellow"?

You can use "bellow" whenever you refer to a loud noise, similar to the roar of an animal.

Example 1: I heard someone bellow in the distance. - referring to someone who shouted loud.

Example 2: The bellow of the lion was reflecting its pain. - "bellow" refers to a deep roaring.

When do we use "below"?

You should use "below" when you refer to the placement of an object or to someone's position in comparison to someone else.

Example 1: Please read the text below. - referring to the lower placement of the text.

Example 2: Her salary is always below the average of what other employees are paid. - "below" is used here with the sense of "less than" the average.

Example 3: Casey is qualified for the management position, whereas Sarah hasn't finished her studies yet. She is still below him at work. - in this case, "below" refers to a lower hierarchic placement.

Conclusion

You should be careful to not confuse "below" for "bellow", as these words have completely different meanings according to their spelling. Consequently, if spelled inappropriately, they can completely change the meaning of your expressions. Shortly, remember "below" is a preposition regarding lower placement, while "bellow" refers to loud shouting.

Bellow vs. Below

Rate this article:

Have a discussion about this article with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this article to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Bellow vs. Below." Grammar.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.grammar.com/bellow_vs._below>.

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Browse Grammar.com

    Free Writing Tool:

    Instant
    Grammar Checker

    Improve your grammar, vocabulary, and writing -- and it's FREE!


    Quiz

    Are you a grammar master?

    »
    Identify the sentence with a correct preposition:
    A She is interested in science.
    B They are fond in music.
    C She is afraid from spiders.
    D He is allergic of cats.

    Improve your writing now:

    Download Grammar eBooks

    It’s now more important than ever to develop a powerful writing style. After all, most communication takes place in reports, emails, and instant messages.