Canvas and Canvass - Commonly Confused Words

The words canvas and canvass  are  homophones: they sound alike but have different meanings.The noun canvas refers to a closely woven cloth used for such things as tents, sails, and oil paintings. The verb canvass means to look over carefully or to solicit votes, orders, or opinions. As a noun, canvass means the act of estimating an outcome or gathering support for a vote. Examples Ella pressed the knife as hard as she could against the thick canvas of the sail.From morning to night the young candidate for mayor went from door to door to canvass the voters.The campaign included six automobiles loaded with good speakers for a two-day personal canvass. Practice (a) The instructor must _____ the students to find a time when most can leave the campus for several hours.(b) In the middle of the 1500s, Titian began painting on rough _____ rather than on smooth wooden panels. Answers to Practice Exercises (a) The instructor must  canvass  the students to find a time when most can leave the campus for several hours.(b) In the middle of the 1500s, Titian began painting on rough  canvas  rather than on smooth wooden panels.