- "Dence" is an incorrect spelling of the word "dense."
- "Dense" means things are packed closely together, like a crowded forest or a lot of information in a small space, making it hard to see through or understand.
❌ The city skyline was obscured by a dence layer of fog.
✅ The city skyline was obscured by a dense layer of fog.
In the sentence, "dense" describes the thickness of the fog. The fog is tightly packed and forms a substantial barrier, making it difficult to see the city skyline in the distance.
What does "dense" mean?
"Dense" is an adjective that most commonly describes the quality of being closely compacted, having parts closely crowded together, or having a high mass per unit volume. It is often used to characterize things that are thick, heavy, or difficult to see through due to the concentration of elements.
If a forest has many trees to the point of blocking out a lot of sunlight, you could say that the forest has a dense canopy.
Other meanings of dense include:
Complex or Complicated:
- Describes information, ideas, or concepts that are intricately woven or challenging to understand.
Lacking Sensitivity:
- Informally used to describe a person who is perceived as slow-witted or not quick to grasp things.
High Population Density:
- Refers to the number of individuals living in a given area, often used in demographic discussions.
Physics (Optics):
- Describes the property of a medium that impedes the transmission of light, resulting in reduced visibility.
Mathematics:
- Indicates a measure of the compactness of a mathematical set.
Immaterial or Abstract Density:
- Used metaphorically to convey a sense of crowdedness or intensity in non-physical contexts, such as a dense schedule or dense atmosphere.
The use of "dense" and "dence" over time
The Ngram graph below shows how often "dense" and "dence" have been used from the 1800s to the 2000s. "Dense" has been used at a steady rate, while its misspelling "dence" is rarely used. One potential reason why "dence" was used to some degree in the past is that it is an uncommon last name.
How to pronounce "dense"
"Dense" is a single-syllable word pronounced the same in American English and British English.
- Phonetic Pronunciation: DENS
- DENS: Pronounced like "dens," rhyming with "fence."
Why would we misspell "dense" as "dence"?
Phonetic Similarity: The pronunciation of "dense" might lead some to think it ends with a "c" sound, contributing to the misspelling "dence."
Typographical Errors: Fast typing or reliance on autocorrect features can easily result in the substitution of letters, turning "dense" into "dence."
Similar-Sounding Words: The English language has numerous words that sound similar but have different spellings. The confusion between "dense" and "dence" might arise due to the presence of other words ending in "-ence," like "fence" and "hence."
Other common misspellings of "dense"
- denze
- densse
- dnese
- deense
- dens
Example sentences of the misspelling of "dense" as "dence"
- It's essential to avoid the misspelling "dence" and use the correct term, which is "dense."
- When discussing atmospheric conditions, be careful not to mistakenly write "dence" instead of the correct spelling, "dense."
- The scientific community emphasizes accuracy, so ensure you don't fall into the common error of writing "dence" when referring to tightly packed substances.
- In professional communication, precision matters, and that includes steering clear of the misspelling "dence" in your written documents.
- "Dence" is not a recognized term; the correct word is "dense," especially when describing the thickness or concentration of a substance.
Example sentences of "dense"
- The forest had a dense underbrush, making it challenging to navigate.
- In chemistry, a dense solution contains a high concentration of solute.
- The textbook provided a dense explanation of the complex scientific theory.
- The cake had a dense texture, packed with layers of flavor.
- The detective sifted through the dense evidence to solve the case.
- She felt a dense atmosphere in the room, filled with tension.
- The mountain air was crisp and dense with the scent of pine.
- The novel featured a dense plot with intricate twists and turns.
- The city's population made it one of the most dense urban areas in the region.
- The artist used a dense array of colors to create a vibrant and captivating painting.
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Synonyms for "dense"
- Thick
- Concentrated
- Compact
- Solid
- Opaque
- Crowded
- Heavy
- Impenetrable
- Packed
- Stupid
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