Weather or whether: which is correct?
Correct
weather (the state of the atmosphere) / whether (if; expressing a choice)
Avoid
weather (for the conjunction: "weather or not")
Avoid
whether (for the climate)
Summary
Correct: weather (the state of the atmosphere) / whether (if; expressing a choice) — Avoid: weather (for the conjunction: "weather or not") / whether (for the climate). Weather = rain, sun, wind and temperature at a given time (noun); whether = a conjunction introducing alternatives or doubt (whether or not).
- Part of speech
- noun / conjunction
- Source
- Merriam-Webster
Why
Merriam-Webster: weather is the noun for atmospheric conditions (and a verb meaning to withstand); whether is a conjunction. They are homophones in most accents, so the mistake is a spelling slip rather than a grammar one.
Examples
- The weather turned cold overnight.
- I don't know whether to stay or go.
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- Merriam-Webster · Oxford English Dictionary / Oxford spelling · SCOWL
- Commonly confused and non-standard forms
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