port hole

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "port hole" is not correct; the correct term is "porthole." You can use it when referring to a circular window on a ship or aircraft. An example is: "The view through the porthole was breathtaking." Alternative expressions include "circular window" and "ship window."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I love the idea of children finding solace and hope through some port hole that escapes them to another magical world.

The Guardian

He discussed what it was like to go down inside a submersible, and peer out of a port hole and see beautiful, luminescent fish, with lights down the side like ocean liners.

The New Yorker

I took a stall in Kensington market, made it look like a silver submarine with a port hole as the entrance, and I combined my loves – music, rock'n'roll imagery and posing – in my designs and created what I saw as stage wear for the street.

The Guardian - Music

The home's front includes port hole windows and garden areas.

Forbes

The port hole that we would actually look out at the earth was through the floor, so I was always looking at earth.

BBC

At first glance, this geometric Malibu marvel resembles the bow of a mega yacht with its angular concrete façade, ocean view terrace and peek-a-boo port hole windows.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The cloud they kicked up as they touched down obscured their view from the port holes and made photography impossible.

The Guardian

The microchannel heat sinks in this study consist of headers, multiple fluidic channels and port holes, all of which influence flow distribution in the multiple channels.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

Making the boat inhabitable required the installation of pumps to ensure a fresh water supply, cutting port holes for windows in the former fish hold and engine room (which were transformed into bedrooms) and the installation of kitchens and bathrooms.

The New York Times

He recalled: "So apprehensive were the prison officials that the game was gotten up for the purpose of covering an attempt to break out, that they had the slides of the port holes" of a patrol vessel "drawn back and the guns prepared for action".

The New York Times

Some of the models have the comforting feel of old acquaintance: the twisting, screw-like sail of a flying machine; the armored revolving saucer with cannons protruding through its port holes; the arched bridge that can swing aside for ship traffic.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the single-word form 'porthole' when writing for maritime, aeronautical or architectural contexts to maintain professional standards.

Common error

Avoid splitting the word into two parts as in "port hole". This can lead readers to mistakenly interpret the phrase as two separate entities—a 'port' (harbor) and a 'hole'—rather than a single functional object.

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "port hole" acts as a compound noun. However, Ludwig notes that it is widely considered a misspelling of the standard term "porthole". In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often identifies a circular opening on ships, aircraft or submersibles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Social Media

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

To conclude, while "port hole" is frequently encountered in reputable journalistic sources, it is technically an incorrect spelling of the word "porthole". Ludwig AI and standard linguistic guides recommend using the closed compound form for all professional and formal writing. The phrase is most commonly used in maritime and aeronautical contexts to describe circular viewing windows. If you are aiming for technical precision, the term "side scuttle" is also an appropriate alternative. Always double-check compound nouns as the space between words can often change the grammatical status from correct to incorrect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

porthole

Standard closed-compound spelling for a circular ship window

port-hole

Hyphenated variant occasionally used but less standard than the single word

side scuttle

Official maritime technical term for a porthole

circular window

Descriptive term used for any round window structure

ship window

General descriptive phrase for any window on a vessel

portal

More formal or architectural term for an opening or entrance

bull's-eye window

Architectural term for a small circular or oval window

aperture

Formal technical term for a small opening or hole

scuttle

Nautical term that can refer specifically to the opening itself

port

Shortened maritime term often used in compound phrases like 'viewing port'

FAQs

Is "port hole" or "porthole" correct?

The correct standard spelling is the closed compound "porthole". While you may see "port hole" in some news articles, it is generally considered a misspelling.

What can I say instead of "port hole"?

You can use alternatives like "porthole", "side scuttle" for nautical contexts, or "circular window" for general descriptions.

What's the difference between "port hole" and "porthole"?

The primary difference is spelling; "porthole" is the grammatically correct version, whereas "port hole" is an incorrect two-word variant found in informal or less edited writing.

How to use "port hole" in a sentence?

In a sentence, you should use the correct form: "The passenger looked through the porthole to see the ocean". Ludwig AI indicates that the spaced version should be avoided.