Sorry, we’re not French.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!
“I’m writing again about words that look and sound similar but have distinctions that you should know so you don’t sound ill-informed.
• Materiel versus material
“Materiel” is the equipment or supplies used by military forces. “Material” is a more sweeping term meaning matter, elements, cloth or tools.
If you keep in mind that materiel — the one ending in “iel” — is associated with the military, you should be OK. Also, materiel never takes an “s” at the end, but material may.
The copters, long overdue, dropped off materiel for the troops.
I love stationery stores for their selection of writing materials.”