Tailor vs Tailer: What’s the Difference?

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People mix up tailor vs tailer because the two words are pronounced exactly alike, and tailer looks like a natural spelling of the clothing job. Add the name Taylor, and there are three look-alikes to sort out. Here is how each one works.

What does tailor mean?

A tailor is a person whose job is making, repairing or altering clothes, especially suits and coats. It is also a verb meaning to adjust something to fit a particular person, need or purpose.

Examples: “The tailor took in the jacket,” and “We tailor our services to each client.” The word comes from Middle English, via Anglo-French, from a verb meaning to cut. Related forms include tailored, tailoring and tailor-made.

What does tailer mean?

A tailer is a person who tails someone, meaning follows them, often secretly. It is built the usual way, from the verb tail plus -er, like walker or runner.

The word is uncommon, and you will mostly see it in crime stories or spy fiction: “The detective lost his tailer after three wrong turns.” Because it is rare, some dictionaries and spell-checkers do not list it, so many writers use “someone tailing me” instead.

Is tailer a real word?

Yes, tailer is a real word, but it is rare, and it does not mean someone who makes clothes. If you are writing about clothing, fitting or adjusting, you want tailor.

The two words are homophones, so only the spelling and context tell them apart.

What does Taylor mean?

Taylor is a name, not a common word. It is a popular given name and a common surname, and the surname originated from the word tailor.

Because it is a proper noun, Taylor is always capitalized. Do not use it for the clothing job or the verb.

Tailor vs tailer: how do you choose?

Ask what the person does. If they make or alter clothes, or if you mean “adjust to fit,” write tailor. If they follow someone, write tailer, or reword with the verb tail.

In almost all everyday writing, tailor is the word you need. Tailer is the exception.

How can you remember tailor vs tailer?

Match the ending to the idea. The memory tricks below make the choice quick.

Memory tricks

• Tailor, like sailor. Both end in -or, and both are jobs.
• Tail plus er. A tailer is simply someone who tails, like a walker walks.
• Capital T, name. If it is a person’s name with a y, it is Taylor.

Common mistakes

• ✗ He took his jacket to the tailer.
  ✓ He took his jacket to the tailor.
• ✗ The spy lost his tailor in the crowd.
  ✓ The spy lost his tailer in the crowd.
• ✗ We will tailer the plan to your needs.
  ✓ We will tailor the plan to your needs.
• ✗ Tailor Brooks joined the team.
  ✓ Taylor Brooks joined the team.
• ✗ She wore a tailer-made suit.
  ✓ She wore a tailor-made suit.

Frequently asked questions

Is it tailor or tailer?

For someone who makes or alters clothes, it is tailor. Tailer is a different, rarer word for a person who follows someone.

Is tailer a word?

Yes, but it is uncommon. A tailer is a person who tails, or follows, someone, and some dictionaries do not list it.

What is the difference between tailor and Taylor?

Tailor is a common noun and verb. Taylor is a proper noun, a given name and common surname that originated from the word tailor.

What does it mean to tailor something?

To tailor something is to adjust it to fit a particular person, need or purpose, such as tailoring a resume to a job.

Is it tailor-made or tailer-made?

Tailor-made is correct. It means made by a tailor or made to suit a specific purpose.

Conclusion

The tailor vs tailer question is simple: tailor is the clothing job and the verb for fitting something to a need, while tailer is a rare word for a person who follows someone. Keep Taylor for names only. Share this with someone who mixes these up, then retake the quiz above.