When it comes to the English language, a single letter can make a monumental difference. In some instances, the single letter would only affect the tense, as is the case with sang and sung. In other instances, the single letter can dramatically change the meaning. Such is the case with canon and cannon.
To make matters even more confusing, both words happen to be pronounced exactly the same way. Just as there are instances where you may mistake allusion and illusion, you might also mistake canon for cannon (or vice versa). So, what’s the difference?
Canon can have several meanings, most of which are similar in scope. It could refer to a rule or a body of rules that are generally understood as fundamental to a field. You could say the Romantic Age holds the works of Wordsworth and Coleridge among its canon of poetry, for instance.
When it comes to a fictional universe, as would be the case in comic books, the “canon” is the body of material that is considered to be the “official” part of the story. For the X-Men, as an example, the canonical tale would say the original members are Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, Beast, and Jean Grey. Non-canon, as is the case in the upcoming First Class movie, would include characters like Emma Frost and Havok.
Canon also happens to be the brand name of digital cameras
Cannon on the other hand, refers to a large artillery gun. The heavy gun can be on wheels, attached to a tank, or used in tandem with any number of military vehicles. A cannon is the weapon that makes use of gunpowder (or some other explosive-based propellant) to shoot cannon balls, bombs, and so forth.
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I didn’t know people made this mistake.
One mistake that bugs me: peak vs. pique
Canon (brand) was know as ‘The Kwanon’ when it started in the 1930’s.
Who knows, it could have some associations with your ancestors!
For whatever reasons, ‘cannon fodder’ keep appearing in my mind when reading this post.
I find it hard to believe that anyone would confuse these 2 words. I used Cannons as a kid while playing, then learned about the five canons of rhetoric from Aristotle for effective persuasion.