Is it sick or ill?

It can be sick or ill depending on the situation. Sick and ill are both adjectives to describe a person who is unwell, but there are slight differences.

• “Sick” usually refers to a short-term and non-serious health condition (e.g., “I stayed home because I was sick with strep throat”).
• “Ill” usually refers to a more serious condition that affects someone’s health long-term (e.g., “When Dad was ill with kidney disease, I visited him in the hospital every day”).

When you’re writing about a sickness or illness (e.g., in get well soon messages), the QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.