Angel vs. Angle – How to Remember the Difference

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Danielle McLeod

Danielle McLeod is a highly qualified secondary English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom. With degrees in science, English, and literacy, she has worked to create cross-curricular materials to bridge learning gaps and help students focus on effective writing and speech techniques. Currently working as a dual credit technical writing instructor at a Career and Technical Education Center, her curriculum development surrounds student focus on effective communication for future career choices.

The subtle differences between the words angle and angle make them confusing to use in writing and speech. They may look alike, but their pronunciation and meanings are very different. 

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between these two words, how to use them, and what tricks you can remember to keep them from becoming confused. 

What is the Difference Between Angel and Angle?

Angel and angle are easy to confuse due to how similar they are spelled in the English language, but these two very different words have very different meanings. It’s important to understand angle vs. angel in order to use them properly. 

When to Use Angel

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The word angel is pronounced as AIN-gel, emphasizing the first syllable. 

An angel is a non-corporeal being, a spirit, believed to be a messenger from God or an attendant of God. When someone speaks of an angel, they often refer to a benevolent spirit. Pop culture depicts figures in robes with wings and a halo and is often referred to as guardian angels. 

For example:

  • And all the angels in heaven rejoiced at the news. 

The word angel is often used figuratively to add detail and description to personality traits. It means the person is virtuous and exhibits outstanding qualities of compassion, beauty, or abilities. Angel may also be used as a term of endearment.

For example:

  • Amy was such an angel last night when she put all the birthday decorations together for the morning surprise. 

When to Use Angle

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An angle can be used as either a noun or a verb. As a noun, it is defined as the space between two straight lines with one common point from which they diverge, or two planes extending from a common line.

For example:

  • The boat came into the dock at an angle and had to straighten out. 

Angler is a name used for somebody competent at fishing. It can also be used as a verb in this manner. 

For example:

  • Only the best anglers were invited to the tournament. 
  • We decided to get up early for a few hours of angling on the lake. 

Angle is also often used to describe a point of view or a certain way of approaching a problem or considering an issue. 

For example:

  • He tried to view it from a different angle to better understand what she was talking about. 
  • The photo was taken at a bad camera angle and did not flatter her look at all. 

As a verb meaning, it refers to bending in a different direction or attempting to achieve something through indirect means. 

For example:

  • She angled for a different view of the street while searching for her friends. 

The Origin of Angle and Angel

Angel is a fusion of the Old English word engel and the Old French word angele, which both derive from the Latin angelus, which means messenger, envoy, or one that announces.

Angle comes from the Old French angle, which means corner.

How Do You Remember Angel vs. Angle?

If you are unsure of how to remember which word is which, we have a few tips and tricks to help you get them correct every time. 

Tip #1

If you are using a verb form of the word, then angle is your only choice since angel is never a verb. 

Tip #2

If the word is a noun, you’ll need to consider the context of the sentence in order to determine if you should use angle or angel. 

An easy way to remember the difference between the two is to consider the mathematical term line, which is part of an angle. Both end with the letter “e.” 

How Do You Use Angle in a Sentence?

Danielle Neusel photographed her daughter Marlie Isabella Hayes making a snow angel Jan. 20 at their home in Benton, Tenn (The Knoxville News-Sentinel)

“She was an angel on Earth and now an angel forever,” Majors said Thursday.  (The Washington Times)

The host slammed Tejasswi Prakash for accusing makers of creating false angles in the show. (The Times of India)

It’s annoying that you can’t adjust the screen angle. (Business Insider)

“This will be nice,” the professional angler from Brainerd said as we pushed off from the dock. “I rarely have time to fish just for the fun of it.” (The Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Let’s Review

If you were confused earlier about the angel vs. angle debate, hopefully, you now understand the difference between these two words. 

An angel is a divine being popularly depicted in peaceful white robes and as a supportive entity. We use the word figuratively to describe a human who is kind and caring or used as a way to provide endearment. 

Angle is a mathematical term that describes the space between two lines that converge on one point, but it can also be used to describe a different point of view or trying to achieve something through various means.