Canvas vs Canvass: Which One Do You Need?
Canvas is heavy cloth, or a surface to paint on. To canvass is to ask people for their views or votes.
A blank canvas. They canvassed the whole street.
The test that settles it
The double s belongs to the verb. If you are doing something to people, it is canvass.
“an oil painting on ___” → a material, so canvas.
“___ opinion before deciding” → an action, so canvass.
Canvas: the cloth
A strong woven fabric, and by extension the stretched surface a painter works on. Always a noun.
The tent is made of heavy canvas.
She stretched a fresh canvas.
A large canvas hung above the fireplace.
Can you touch it? Then canvas.
Canvass: to solicit views
To go round asking people what they think, usually before an election or a decision. It works as a noun too, meaning that process.
Volunteers canvassed the constituency.
We should canvass staff before announcing it.
A quick canvass of the members.
Swap in poll or solicit. If it works, canvass.
Side by side
| Canvas | Canvass |
|---|---|
| A material | An activity |
| One s | Two s |
| Noun only | Verb, and a noun for the process |
| Paint on canvas | Canvass the voters |
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| They spent the weekend canvasing. | They spent the weekend canvassing. | Double the s before the ending. |
| a canvass bag | a canvas bag | The material. |
| We will canvas opinion. | We will canvass opinion. | The verb takes two. |
| a blank canvass to work from | a blank canvas to work from | The painting surface. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- The artist worked on a large ___.
- Party workers ___ the estate all evening.
- The sails were made of ___.
- Let us ___ the team before we commit.
- A ___ awning shaded the door.
Show the answers
1. canvas 2. canvassed 3. canvas 4. canvass 5. canvas
Frequently asked
Are the two words related?
Distantly. Canvass once meant to toss someone in a canvas sheet, which became a figure for shaking out opinions.
Is canvasser spelled with two?
Yes — it comes from the verb: canvasser, canvassing, canvassed.
More words people confuse
