CASH VS. CACHE

CASH VS. CACHE

As with other similar sounding words, cash and cache also cause confusion among people. Here are some tips to help you avoid these mixups.

Cash as a noun refers to “legal tender or coins that can be used to exchange goods, debt or services”. It is considered the physical form of money.

“Free pizza ‘more motivational than cash’ if you want staff to work harder”
Telegraph

“UniCredit CEO not worried bank’s cash call could overlap with Monte Paschi’s”
Reuters

“Abandoned bag of cash in Lower Sundon was found by a police dog”
BBC News

As a verb, cash means “give or obtain notes or coins for a check or money order”. The verb phrase cash in denotes “take advantage of or exploit a situation”.

“My Landlord Mom Refuses to Cash in on San Francisco’s Insane Housing Market”
VICE

“Columbia Heights cop fired over stake in check-cashing business”
Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Man charged after trying to cash $39,375 counterfeit check, authorities say”
AL.com

Meanwhile, cache as a noun refers to “a hiding place, especially one in the ground, for ammunition, food, treasures, etc.”

“Speeding Motorist Stopped, Police Discover Cache of Allegedly Stolen U.S. Mail”
Pasadena News Now

“Second cache of illegal wood found on military compound”
Myanmar Times

“Eleven militants apprehended, huge cache of arms seized in Assam”
Business Standard

In computing, cache is “a temporary storage space or memory that allows fast access to data”.

“Insecure Redis caches abused for Linux server attacks”
IT News

“RCom Brings Cache-Based Content Delivery Network”
CXOToday.com

“Quick Tip: Clearing Browser Cache and Using Back Button Browsing History in Microsoft Edge”
SuperSite for Windows

Cache may also be used as a verb which literally means “to place in a cache”.

“Could Netflix Someday Cache at Home?”
Light Reading

Basically, you can avoid using the wrong term by simply remembering their different uses. You can now place these terms in your cache of English words for writing.