Pipet vs Pipette: which is which?
“Pipet” or “Pipette”? It’s a question that baffles even the smartest scientists. As we know, precision and accuracy are imperative to science. So at Imbibe Solutions, we were determined to get to the bottom of it. Before writing this blog, we had a company-wide debate on what the differences were. Our team was evenly split.
The Debate
Group A argued that “pipette” was the physical instrument, no matter the variety, while “pipet” was the action of pipetting. For example, “You should use a pipette to pipet small amounts of liquid.” (This author disagrees but acknowledges the argument and a semi-reasonable line of thought.)
Group B argued that “pipette” refers to higher-precision instruments like micropipettes and volumetric pipettes. Alternatively, “pipet” refers to cheaper, lower-precision instruments like transfer pipets and droppers. More precision/more money = fancier word. (This author believes this is clearly the superior argument.)
The Findings
Many more debates and online searches later, we were finally able to put this dispute to rest. For all you Lab Rats and perfectionists out there–listen up.
Ultimately, there’s no real difference between “pipet” and “pipette”. They both mean the same exact thing — sorry to disappoint. Pipettes (pipets) are laboratory tools for transporting measured quantities of liquids. They come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and materials. A pipet (pipette) works like a vacuum pump, drawing up the liquid and releasing it at the scientist’s command.
So why dedicate a whole blog to two words that mean the same thing? Well, good question. Our answer: because why not?
Fun Fact
Pipette comes from the French word for “little pipe”.
To put it simply, “pipet” is just an alternate spelling of “pipette” (and visa versa), but when it boils down to it, the most common spelling worldwide is “pipette”. On the internet, over twice as many people search for and write “pipette” as opposed to “pipet”. Even as I write this blog, autocorrect is changing “pipet” to “pipette”–and yes, it’s driving me nuts!
- You can use pipette (pipet) as a noun (the instrument itself) or as a verb (to transfer liquid using a pipette).
- The spelling does not relate to the precision, accuracy, or price of the pipet (pipette).
- Just don’t mess with micropipettes — there is no such thing as a micropipet!
- Even lab supply companies put both spellings on item listings to ensure you find it no matter how you choose to spell it.
Well, there you have it, folks. If you’re looking for a fun piece of trivia to share at the dinner table tonight–we’ve got you covered.