Weather and whether sound the same, and the meaning is completely different. Weather is the rain, sun, wind and temperature outside. Whether is a linking word meaning if, especially when there are two choices.
The if test is enough for most sentences. If you can replace the word with if, write whether. If the sentence talks about rain or sunshine, write weather.
This page gives both meanings, eight examples and 15 questions. Every answer says whether the sentence is about the sky or about a choice.
What each word means
weather
weather (noun): the condition of the air outside, such as rain, sun, wind or snow. Also a verb meaning to come through a difficult time: "weather the storm".
whether
whether (conjunction): if, used to introduce two or more possibilities. "I do not know whether to stay or go."
The rule
Weather is the sky and the air
- It is a noun: good weather, bad weather, cold weather, the weather forecast.
- Fixed phrases: under the weather means feeling ill; weather the storm means to survive trouble.
- It talks about conditions you can see and feel outside.
- The pronunciation sounds like wether, and the spelling keeps the ea of heat.
Whether is about choices
- Whether often pairs with or: "whether we win or lose".
- Whether or not means in both cases: "Whether or not it rains, we will go."
- It follows verbs of thinking and asking: know, wonder, ask, decide, say.
- It can come before a to-infinitive: "I cannot decide whether to call him."
The if test
- Replace the word with if. If the sentence still makes sense, use whether.
- If the sentence describes rain, sun or temperature, use weather.
- After a preposition, use whether: "It depends on whether she comes."
- Before or, whether is safer than if, even though both are heard.
Traps in writing
- Weather or not is wrong when you mean in both cases. Write whether or not.
- It depends on the whether is wrong: the noun after on is weather.
- I asked weather he was coming is wrong: the choice word is whether.
- The whether is cold today is wrong: the condition outside is the weather.
How to remember
The trick: Weather has heat inside it and is about the sky. Whether starts like what and asks if. If you can say if, write whether.
Examples
- The weather is lovely today.Weather is the condition outside, so the noun is correct.
- I do not know whether to go.Whether introduces the choice, and if fits here.
- We stayed inside because of the weather.The rain or cold is the weather.
- Whether we win or lose, we will celebrate.Whether pairs with or to show two possibilities.
- He asked whether I was free.After asked, whether introduces the question.
- The weather forecast says rain.A forecast about rain uses the weather noun.
- She wondered whether to call him.Whether plus a to-infinitive shows a choice.
- Whether or not it rains, the match will start.Whether or not means in both cases.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: I do not know weather to stay. Right: I do not know whether to stay.
- The sentence introduces a choice, and the choice word is whether.
- Wrong: We will go, weather or not. Right: We will go, whether or not.
- Whether or not is the fixed phrase meaning in both cases.
- Wrong: It depends on the whether. Right: It depends on the weather.
- A condition outside is the weather noun.
- Wrong: The whether is cold today. Right: The weather is cold today.
- Cold air is the weather, spelled with ea.
- Wrong: I asked weather he was coming. Right: I asked whether he was coming.
- The verb asked introduces a choice, so whether is correct.
Practice drill
Answer all 15 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
The ___ is lovely today.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. weather The condition outside is the weather noun with ea.
I do not know ___ to go.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. whether The sentence introduces a choice, and the choice word is whether.
We stayed inside because of the ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. weather Rain or cold is the weather, spelled with ea.
___ we win or lose, we will celebrate.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Whether Whether pairs with or to show two possibilities.
He asked ___ I was free.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. whether After asked, whether introduces the choice or question.
The ___ forecast says rain.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. weather A forecast about rain is the weather forecast with ea.
She wondered ___ to call him.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. whether Whether plus a to-infinitive shows a choice.
___ or not it rains, the match will start.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Whether Whether or not is the fixed phrase meaning in both cases.
It depends on ___ she comes.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. whether After the preposition on, whether introduces the condition.
The ___ was terrible for the whole holiday.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. weather The condition outside is the weather noun.
I am a bit under the ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. weather Under the weather is the fixed phrase meaning feeling ill.
I cannot decide ___ to take the job.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. whether Decide introduces a choice, so whether is correct.
The company ___ the crisis well.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. weathered The verb meaning survived is weathered, from the weather noun.
Do you know ___ the shop is open?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. whether The question about open or closed is a choice, so whether is correct.
Bad ___ delayed the flight.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. weather Bad conditions outside are bad weather with ea.
Questions learners ask
Can if replace whether?
Often yes in spoken English: "I wonder if she is coming." Whether is safer before or, after prepositions, and before a to-infinitive. Use if for conditions and whether for choices.
What does under the weather mean?
It means feeling ill or not your usual self: "I am a bit under the weather today." It has nothing to do with the forecast. It is an informal fixed phrase.
Is weather ever a verb?
Yes. To weather something means to come through it safely: "The company weathered the crisis." Weather the storm is the most common form of this verb.
More confusing words
Especially vs specially
Especially means particularly or above all. Specially means for a special purpose, and it usually goes with made, designed or trained.
Rise vs raise
Rise means to go up by itself, with no object. Raise means to move something up or increase it, so it always needs an object.
Lie vs lay
You lie down, but you lay something down. Lie has no object, lay needs one, and the past of lie is lay, which is the root of the confusion.
Browse all the confusing word pairs or take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.