Home / English /

Is it Genius or Genious? (Correct Grammar + Examples)

Is it genius or genious? These two words are frequently confused. And create grammatical issues when writing English. What’s the difference between these two words? Is one correct and the other incorrect?

To learn more about the differences between genius and genious, continue reading this article…

Which is correct, genius or genious?

Genius is the correct word to use in the English language. It is often confused with the word “genious.” This is because the word “ingenious” contains an “iou” form in the word. Both genius and ingenious have very similar meanings, causing the confusion.

Genius definition

Genius, the word, can act as both a noun and an adjective. In most cases, we refer to “genius” in the noun form. It is a characteristic of original and exceptional insight in the performance of art of endeavor (that greatly surpasses expectations).

WordDefinition
Genius (noun) /ˈjēnyəs/exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability.
Genius (adjective) /ˈjēnyəs/very clever or ingenious.

Often, when we think of the word genius, we think of Albert Einstein, one of the most famous geniuses to live.

Tip: When trying to pluralize and show possession of the word “genius,” the correct form is geniuses (the plural noun form).

What does “genious” mean?

The word “genious” is a common misspelled word trying to refer to the base form “genius.” In many cases, the word “genious” becomes a misspelling because the word “genius” [in pronunciation], sounds very similar to having an “o” letter inside of it.

Why is “genious” a misspelling?

The word ingenious, which refers to something being clever, contains an “o” in the word form. For example, if we remove “in” from the word form, we are left with “genious.” Making it highly confusing when referring to something that’s “genius” and “ingenious”—both referring to something that is exceptional (in terms of insight or knowledge).

How to use genius correctly

Genius can function as both an adjective and a noun.

Here is how genius is used as a noun:

  • Albert Einstein was a genius who had a very high IQ.
  • Your son tested very highly on the math test, he may be a genius.
  • Whenever I think about why we have airplanes, I think about how much genius went into the original conception.
Genius sentence example
Genius sentence example

Here is how genius is used as an adjective:

  • That was a genius idea you just had.
  • There was a stroke of genius in that idea.
Genius sentence example
Genius sentence example

What about ingenious?

Ingenious is an adjective that refers to an aptitude for invention or creation. It refers to something that is original, clever, and resourceful.

Here are example sentences using “ingenious”:

  • The way you got the groceries purchased so quickly was ingenious.
  • I never thought to put my milk and coffee together, that was ingenious.
  • We would have never thought to pursue that venture, it was ingenious.
Ingenious sentence example
Ingenious sentence example

Conclusion

Remember, the correct spelling is “genius,” there is no “O” in the word “genius.” To remember, simply think about how “U” are a genius. And that there is no “O” letter in the “U.” This is called a mnemonic device. And is used to help remember critical thoughts and ideas.

WordCorrect / Incorrect
Genius (noun) /ˈjēnyəs/Correct
GeniousIncorrect
Tags:
Differences

Fact checked:
Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. Learn more.

About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.