The difference between drier and dryer is the former is an adjective while the latter is a noun. Drier is a comparative adjective that means “more dry.” When we say comparative adjective, it means an adjective that’s used to compare two people or things. On the other hand, dryer is a noun that refers to a machine or tool that dries things, especially clothes.
In the past, the two words were interchangeable, but now dictionaries have made a clear distinction between drier and dryer. To avoid confusion between the two, remember that “dryer” and “dry” both have the letter “y,” so it would be easy to associate “dryer” with “dry,” as in “drying something.”
When to Use Drier
We use drier as a comparative adjective of “dry” to mean “less wet.” It literally means “more dry,” but take note that “more dry” is grammatically incorrect, so “drier,” the comparative form, should be used. Although some dictionaries say that drier is another spelling of dryer, there’s now a difference between the two, and the words are interchangeable.
Drier as an Adjective
As the skin becomes drier, we need to use moisturizers often.
Having tanks with more water would avoid operations where there is a high demand for it and would avoid drier crops.
As drier air movies, humidity should decrease, too.
If the climate gets drier, it will make sense to conclude that even more droughts will occur.
The weather forecast said there would be drier with sunny spells for all areas on Sunday afternoon.
When to Use Dryer
We use a dryer as a noun to refer to a machine or tool to dry things—for example, a hairdryer, a trash dryer, a tumble dryer, and many more. There are many types of dryers that people in everyday life commonly use.
Dryer as a Noun
Having a dish dryer at home is very useful, especially for people who are busy with the daily grind.
Forger always sets a timer on the tumble dryer when doing the laundry.
‘Which premier brand do you consider the best clothes dryer for you?’
I prefer to bring my CHI Lite Dryer whenever I travel abroad.
A helpful life hack is using the electric hand dryer to dry some things such as socks, face towels, and handkerchiefs.
Drier vs. Dryer: What’s the Difference?
While drier and dryer may be pronounced similarly, their spellings and meanings are different. Drier is a comparative adjective form of the word “dry,” meaning “more dry.” Meanwhile, dryer is a noun that refers to a machine or a tool that dries things, especially clothes. Before, we could use the words interchangeably, but these days, there’s now an established clear distinction between the two.
To remember which one to use, take note that “dryer” and “dry” both have the letter “y,” making it easy to associate “dryer” with “dry,” as in “drying something.”
References:
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.) Drier. In https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/drier
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.) Dryer. In https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dryer
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online. (n.d.). Drier. In https://www.ldoceonline.com/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/drier
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online. (n.d.). Dryer. In https://www.ldoceonline.com/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/dryer
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Drier. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drier
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Dryer. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dryer
