Commonly Confused words

The words 'travel', 'journey', 'trip' and 'voyage' are often confused, but have different meanings and uses.

Travel
'Travel' is used as both a verb and a noun.

Verb:   'To travel', means to go from one place to another.

• Last year I travelled to China on my holidays.

• When I visit Rome, I always travel by car.

• Light travels faster than sound.

Noun: 'Travel' refers to the activity of travelling in general. Travel is usually uncountable. It is sometimes used in a plural form in spoken English, when it means a long tour in which several places are visited, or refers in general to the travelling that a person has done.

• I am interested in travel.

• I have met many interesting people on my travels.

• Is he back from his travels yet?

Journey is a countable noun. A journey is 'one piece of travelling'.

• We went on a journey to India last year.

• Did you have a good journey? (Not: Did you have a good travel?)

'Trip' is a countable noun and refers to a return journey (to, and back from, a place). It usually refers to a journey which takes a short time, or covers a short distance. It can also be used with an adjective to describe the type of trip.

• We went on a day-trip to Venice. (We went to Venice and returned home the same day.)

• He is on a business trip.

'Voyage' is a countable noun, used to describe a long sea journey, but it is also sometimes used to describe journeys in space.

• The Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage.

• Columbus set out on his Voyage to America in 1492.