Storey and story are two words that look and sound almost the same. That is why many English learners mix them up.
The problem becomes even more confusing because the two words can have different meanings depending on the type of English being used.
In British English, storey usually means a level or floor of a building. For example, you can say, “My office is on the second storey.”
A story, on the other hand, is usually a tale or account about people and events. For example, “She told me a funny story.”
The difference seems small, but using the wrong word can change the meaning of your sentence.
If you write, “The building has five stories” in British English, a reader may understand what you mean, but five storeys is the usual spelling when you are talking about five levels of a building.
There is another important point: American English often uses “story” for a floor of a building.
So, both British and American English have a correct form, but their usual spelling is different.
Once you understand this small difference, the two words become much easier. You will know when to use storey, when to use story, and why you may see “story” used for buildings in American English.
You will also learn simple rules and examples that make the difference easy to remember.
What Does “Storey” Mean?
Storey is a noun used mainly in British English to mean one level or floor of a building.
For example:
The house has two storeys.
This means the house has two levels.
The word is especially common when people talk about the height or design of buildings. You might hear someone describe a house as a two-storey house, a three-storey building, or a ten-storey office block.
The plural form is storeys.
When should you use “storey”?
Use storey when you are talking about a level of a building and you are following British English spelling.
For example:
- The school is a three-storey building.
- Our flat is on the fourth storey.
- They live in a two-storey house.
- The hotel has eight storeys.
- There is a shop on the ground storey.
In everyday British English, floor is also very common. In many situations, people would naturally say, “I live on the third floor” rather than “I live on the third storey.”
So, storey is not the only word available. It is simply a specific noun used to describe a level of a building.
Grammar rule for “storey”
Storey is a countable noun.
You can use a number before it:
- one storey
- two storeys
- three storeys
- four storeys
- five storeys
Notice the spelling change:
one storey → two storeys
The -y changes to -ys, not -ies.
This is different from words such as city → cities. The plural of storey is storeys.
Examples of “storey”
- They live in a three-storey house.
- The new office building has twelve storeys.
- Her apartment is on the fifth storey.
- We walked up to the second storey.
- The school is a two-storey building.
- There is a large meeting room on the top storey.
- The company moved to the sixth storey of the building.
- The old hotel has only four storeys.
These examples all use storey because the meaning is connected with a level of a building.
A common confusion with “storey”
Many learners see story used for a building and assume that storey must be wrong.
That is not true.
In British English, storey is the normal spelling when you mean a level of a building.
In American English, story is commonly used for the same meaning.
So these are both correct:
- British English: a five-storey building
- American English: a five-story building
The important thing is to understand the variety of English you are using.
What Does “Story” Mean?
Story has several meanings, but the most common meaning is a tale or account about people, events, or experiences.
For example:
My grandfather told me a story about his childhood.
Here, story means an account of something that happened, or something that someone has imagined.
You can use story for books, films, conversations, news reports, personal experiences, and traditional tales.
When should you use “story”?
Use story when you are talking about a tale, account, or series of events.
For example:
- She told me an interesting story.
- I read a story before going to bed.
- His story made everyone laugh.
- The film has a simple story.
- I heard a strange story about that place.
The word can describe something that is true, partly true, or completely imaginary, depending on the situation.
For example:
He told us a story about his trip to Lahore.
This could be a true account.
But:
The children listened to a story about a magical dragon.
This is clearly an imaginary tale.
Grammar rule for “story”
Story is a countable noun.
Its singular form is:
story
Its plural form is:
stories
For example:
- one story
- two stories
- three stories
- many stories
Here, unlike storey, the spelling changes from y to ies.
Story → stories
This is an important spelling difference to remember.
Examples of “story”
- She told me a funny story.
- I read an interesting story last night.
- The children love stories about animals.
- He wrote a short story for his English class.
- That story made me think about my childhood.
- Can you tell me the whole story?
- The movie has a beautiful love story.
- I heard a strange story on the news.
In all of these sentences, story refers to an account, tale, plot, or set of events.
“Story” can also mean information about events
Sometimes story means an account of what happened.
For example:
Tell me your side of the story.
This does not necessarily mean a fictional tale. It means:
Tell me what happened from your point of view.
You might also hear:
What’s the story?
In casual English, this can mean:
What happened? or What is the situation?
So story has a wide range of everyday uses.
Difference Between Storey and Story
The easiest way to understand the difference is to focus on meaning first.
In British English:
| Word | Main meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| storey | A level of a building | The house has three storeys. |
| story | A tale or account | She told me a funny story. |
| storeys | More than one building level | The building has ten storeys. |
| stories | More than one tale or account | He writes children’s stories. |
There is one major regional difference:
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| a five-storey building | a five-story building |
| six storeys | six stories |
| second storey | second story |
This means story is not always wrong when it refers to a building. It is the standard American spelling for that meaning.
Storey = building level
Think about a building:
The office is on the third storey.
You are talking about where the office is located in a building.
Another example:
They bought a two-storey house.
You are describing the number of levels in the house.
Story = tale or account
Now think about a book:
I read a wonderful story.
You are talking about a tale or account, not a building.
Another example:
She told us a sad story.
Again, the meaning is a tale or account.
Grammar logic
The two words are different nouns with different meanings in British English.
Storey relates to architecture and buildings.
Story relates to tales, events, accounts, and narratives.
The spelling may look like a tiny difference, but the meaning can be very different.
Compare:
The building has five storeys.
and:
The book has five stories.
The first sentence talks about five levels of a building.
The second sentence talks about five separate tales.
Sentence structure with “storey”
Common structures include:
a + number + -storey + noun
Examples:
- a two-storey house
- a three-storey school
- a five-storey building
- a ten-storey hotel
Notice something important: when storey comes before another noun as part of a compound adjective, it normally stays singular.
We say:
a three-storey building
Not:
a three-storeys building
The number already tells us that there are three levels.
Sentence structure with “story”
Common structures include:
a + adjective + story
Examples:
- an interesting story
- a funny story
- a sad story
- a true story
- a short story
For plural meaning:
I read three interesting stories.
The plural form is stories.
Meaning comparison
Compare these sentences:
We live in a four-storey house.
This means the house has four levels.
We heard four stories about the house.
This means we heard four different accounts or tales about the house.
The words sound almost identical, but the meanings are completely different.
Grammar Rules You Must Remember
Rule #1: Use “storey” for a building level in British English
When you mean one level of a building, use storey in British English.
Example:
Our office is on the third storey.
You can also use floor:
Our office is on the third floor.
Both are natural British English choices.
Rule #2: Use “story” for a tale or account
When you mean a tale, narrative, account, or series of events, use story.
Example:
He told me an interesting story.
You can use story for real events as well as imaginary ones.
For example:
She shared a story about her first day at university.
This can describe a real experience.
Rule #3: The plural forms are different
Remember:
storey → storeys
story → stories
Examples:
The building has six storeys.
She wrote six stories.
This spelling difference is one of the easiest ways to keep the words apart.
Do not write:
six storys
And do not write:
six storeies
The correct forms are stories and storeys.
Rule #4: American English uses “story” for a building level
This rule is very important if you read American books, websites, or news.
American English commonly uses story to mean a floor of a building.
For example:
The apartment is on the third story.
British English normally uses:
The apartment is on the third storey.
Neither form is automatically incorrect. They belong to different regional varieties of English.
If you are writing for a British audience, storey is the safer choice for a building level.
If you are writing for an American audience, story is normal for that meaning.
Common Mistakes Students Make
One common mistake happens because storey and story sound the same.
A learner may write:
The building has five storys.
There are actually two problems here.
First, the British spelling for a building level is storey.
Second, the plural spelling is storeys, not storys.
The correct British English sentence is:
The building has five storeys.
Mistake 1: Using “story” for a building in British English
Wrong for standard British usage:
We live in a three-story house.
Better in British English:
We live in a three-storey house.
The first sentence is normal American English, so it is not universally wrong. The second is the usual British form.
Mistake 2: Using “storey” for a tale
Some learners write:
She told me a funny storey.
That is incorrect.
When you mean a tale or account, use story.
Correct:
She told me a funny story.
Mistake 3: Using “storeys” when you mean tales
Consider:
I love reading children’s storeys.
This is incorrect.
The correct sentence is:
I love reading children’s stories.
Remember, stories means more than one tale or account.
Mistake 4: Writing “three-storeys building”
This is a common grammar mistake.
Incorrect:
It is a three-storeys building.
Correct:
It is a three-storey building.
When the measurement or number forms part of a compound adjective before a noun, storey stays singular.
More examples:
- a two-storey house
- a four-storey school
- a seven-storey office
- a twenty-storey tower
Mistake 5: Thinking American English is incorrect
A learner may see:
The building has twenty stories.
and think the writer made a spelling mistake.
Not necessarily.
In American English, story can mean a level of a building.
So it is useful to know both forms, especially if you read English from different countries.
Easy Trick to Remember the Difference
Here is a simple memory trick:
Storey has “store” in it. Think of a building with shops and levels.
This is not the historical meaning of the word, but it can help you remember the spelling.
Think:
STOREY = building level
Then think:
STORY = tale
For example:
The building has six storeys.
Think: levels.
I read six stories.
Think: tales.
Another easy trick is to look at the plural forms:
storeys = building levels
stories = tales
If you are talking about a building in British English, look for the e:
storey
If you are talking about a tale, use:
story
A quick mental picture
Imagine a tall building.
You can count:
one storey, two storeys, three storeys, four storeys.
Now imagine a bookshelf.
You can read:
one story, two stories, three stories, four stories.
That simple picture can make the difference stick in your memory.
Daily Life Examples
The best way to learn confusing words is to see them in normal conversations.
Example 1: Talking about a house
Ali: How many levels does your new house have?
Sara: It is a two-storey house.
Here, storey describes the building.
Example 2: Asking where someone lives
Tom: Which storey do you live on?
Ben: I live on the fourth storey.
In everyday British English, you could also say:
I live on the fourth floor.
Example 3: Talking about a book
Maya: Did you enjoy the book?
Anna: Yes. It was a very interesting story.
Here, story means the tale or narrative in the book.
Example 4: Sharing an experience
John: Why were you late?
Mike: It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.
Here, story means an explanation or account of what happened.
Example 5: Describing a building
A: Is that the new office?
B: Yes. It’s a six-storey building.
The word storey tells us how many levels the building has.
Example 6: Talking about children
Mother: What are you reading?
Child: A story about a little girl and her dog.
The word story means a tale.
Example 7: Talking about a hotel
Tourist: How big is the hotel?
Receptionist: It has eight storeys.
The hotel has eight levels.
Example 8: Talking about a personal experience
Friend: What happened at the meeting?
You: I’ll tell you the whole story when we get home.
Here, story means an account of events.
Example 9: American English
American speaker: My apartment is on the fifth story.
This is normal American English.
A British speaker would usually say:
My apartment is on the fifth storey.
Example 10: Describing a building before a noun
They built a four-storey shopping centre.
Because four-storey describes the shopping centre, storey stays singular.
Practice Section
Choose the correct word in each sentence.
1. My uncle lives in a three-_____ house.
storey / story
2. She told us a funny _____ about her school days.
storey / story
3. The office is on the seventh _____.
storey / story
4. I enjoy reading short _____ before bed.
storeys / stories
5. The new building has fifteen _____.
storeys / stories
Answers
1. storey
My uncle lives in a three-storey house.
2. story
She told us a funny story about her school days.
3. storey
The office is on the seventh storey.
4. stories
I enjoy reading short stories before bed.
5. storeys
The new building has fifteen storeys.
Remember that these answers follow British English usage. In American English, story/stories can also refer to building levels.
FAQs About Storey vs Story
What is the difference between “storey” and “story”?
In British English, storey usually means a level of a building, while story means a tale, account, or narrative.
For example, “a five-storey building” has five levels. “A funny story” is a tale or account.
American English commonly uses story for a building level too.
Is “storey” British or American English?
Storey is mainly the British English spelling when referring to a level of a building.
For example:
The house has three storeys.
American English normally uses story for the same meaning:
The house has three stories.
Is “story” correct for a floor of a building?
Yes, but it depends on the variety of English.
In American English, story commonly means a floor or level of a building. In British English, storey is normally used for this meaning.
So both can be correct in the right variety of English.
What is the plural of “storey”?
The plural of storey is storeys.
For example:
The building has ten storeys.
Do not use storeies or storeys for the meaning of several tales. The word for several tales is stories.
What is the plural of “story”?
The plural of story is stories.
For example:
She writes children’s stories.
The word stories can mean several tales, accounts, or narratives. In American English, it can also mean several building levels.
Is “three-storeys building” correct?
No. When storey is used as part of a compound adjective before a noun, it stays singular.
Correct:
a three-storey building
Not:
a three-storeys building
This is similar to other measurement expressions such as a five-year-old child and a ten-mile journey.
Final Conclusion
The difference between storey and story is small in spelling but important in meaning. In British English, storey means a level of a building, while story usually means a tale, account, or narrative.
For example, you can live in a three-storey house, but you can read an interesting story before bed.
Their plural forms are also different: storeys refers to building levels, while stories refers to tales or accounts.
There is one important regional point to remember. American English uses “story” for a building level, so you may see phrases such as “a five-story building” in American writing. This is normal American usage.
If you are learning British English, keep the simple rule in mind: storey = building level; story = tale or account.
Use these words in your own sentences, especially when talking about buildings, books, films, and personal experiences. After a little practice, you will be able to choose the right spelling naturally.
I am Benjamin Clark, an English language writer passionate about simplifying grammar, vocabulary, and word meanings. I create clear, accurate, and practical content to help learners improve their English skills with confidence every day.
