Boarder and border are both correct words but have different spelling and meanings. Boarder (the one that’s spelled with the letter “a”) is used as a noun that means two things: a student staying in a boarding school or someone renting in another’s house. Meanwhile, border is used as a noun and verb in many ways, but generally, it deals with a boundary or edge of something.
As a noun, a border is the outer part or edge of something or a specific area; an ornamental design at the edge of something; and a boundary dividing different territories. Moreover, border functions as a verb that means to touch at the edge or boundary and to lie on the border.
When to Use Boarder
We use boarder as a noun when referring to a student staying in a boarding school (during the day and night). Also, we use the word when referring to someone renting in another’s house or simply, a lodger.
Boarder as a Noun
Referring to a Student in a Boarding School
Boarding school pupils are normally referred to as “boarders.”
The school has many boarders to be accommodated during the latter part of the term.
Allen doesn’t want to become a boarder at his new school.
Referring to Someone Renting Another Place
I became a boarder when I started working and living alone.
The new boarder has to pay in advance.
The owner of the house decided to terminate the boarder’s contract.
When to Use Border
We use border as a noun and verb. When it’s used as a noun, a border is the outer part or edge of a specific area; an ornamental design at the edge of something; and a boundary separating territories. Furthermore, we use border as a verb that means to touch at the edge or boundary and to lie on the border.
Border as a Noun
Referring to an Outer Part or Edge of Something
I couldn’t see the border of their house.
The border of that mountain peak is wide.
She was overwhelmed at the borders of the forest.
Referring to an Ornamental Design
I like the photographs’ borders to be minimalist in design.
Leila decorated the frame with gold leaf borders.
She fell in love with the embroidered border of the dress.
Referring to a Boundary Between Territories
The refugees escaped across the border.
It’s dangerous to cross the North Korea borders.
Where’s the border between those two countries?
Border as a Verb
Touching at the Edge or Boundary
That area borders the city on the north.
Australia is an island that borders three of the world’s oceans.
The Black Sea borders six countries.
Being Next to Something
The new gigantic mall borders on the national highway.
I walked toward a path that was bordered by a high wall.
The oak trees bordered the river.
Boarder vs. Border: Is There a Difference?
Boarder and border are correct, but they are different words and not interchangeable. Boarder is always used as a noun and talks about a person renting or student boarding in a school. Meanwhile, border functions both as noun and verb that generally talks about a boundary or an edge of something.
References:
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.) Boarder. In https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/ dictionary. Retrieved March 18, 2022, fromhttps://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/border
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.) Border. In https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/border
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online. (n.d.). Boarder. In https://www.ldoceonline.com/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/boarder
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online. (n.d.). Border. In https://www.ldoceonline.com/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/border
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Boarder. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boarder
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Border. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/border
