Root vs. Route: What’s the difference?

Should you use root or route?

People won’t be able to tell the difference when you’re speaking, but it’s important to know when to use root vs route so that you have clear writing. When deciding which spelling to use, consider the common definitions along with the different ways the words have been used in the past. Context matters, and the rest of the sentence and paragraph should be evaluated when choosing root or route.

Definitions of route and root

As a noun, root typically refers to the part of a plant that is attached to the ground, and sometimes underground. Another definition of root describes the origin or cause of something. If you’re looking for a verb, root can be used to describe the starting process of planting, to deeply establish something, or to show support for someone or something.

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You can use route as a noun and verb too. If you’re wanting the noun version of this word, it describes a path that goes from one location to another. The verb version of route means sending something along a specific path.

Examples of when to use root vs. route

Even though you’ve learned some of the definitions of root versus route, it can still be confusing to know which one you should use. These words have been used in several ways throughout history, so it’ll be beneficial to know the many ways they can be used. For example, you could write:

I’m rooting for the team.
In this sentence, rooting is using the definition “to show support for someone or something.”

I tripped over the tree’s roots.
This sentence uses roots to describe the part of the tree that’s laying on the ground.

He doesn’t like root beer.
Like the previous example, root is being used to describe the different plant roots that are used to make this beverage.

The school’s values are rooted in equality and inclusion for all its students.
This sentence uses rooted as a way to show an establishment of the school’s rules.

If you’re writing about getting someone or something from one location to another, you would typically use route. For example:

Follow Route 66 to see different landmarks, restaurants, and shopping centers.
Even though route in this sentence is a proper noun, it describes a popular road that people can use to drive from Chicago to California.

You may get there late if you take a different route than us.
This sentence also uses route in a travel-related manner. The route the person chooses to take describes how they get from their initial location to the next destination.

The school bus was routed around the accident.
Unlike the previous examples, routed is used as a verb in this sentence. It describes the path that the school bus was given.

If you’re ever unsure of when to use root vs route in your writing, consider the context of what you’re attempting to say. A sentence that’s related to traveling or going from one place to another will typically use route. Context related to plants, cheering for or supporting something, or the origin of something will more than likely use root. Research both words in your dictionary to find all the possible meanings that they have. Mixing up homophones is a common grammatical error that you can avoid with a little research on the words you’re using.