Quick answer: Eligible means qualified or entitled to do or receive something: She is eligible for a scholarship. Illegible means impossible or very hard to read: His handwriting is illegible. Memory trick: e-LIGIBLE relates to choice and qualification (from Latin eligere, to choose); il-LEGIBLE relates to reading (from Latin legere, to read, plus the negative prefix il-). For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘eligible’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| eligible | adjective | qualified or entitled to do or receive something | You are eligible to vote at eighteen. |
| illegible | adjective | impossible or very hard to read, usually because of bad handwriting or poor print | The note was illegible and no one could read it. |
Using Eligible
Eligible describes someone or something that meets the necessary conditions or requirements to do, receive, or be chosen for something. It almost always appears with the preposition for or followed by a to-infinitive.
Only full-time students are eligible for the discount.
You must be over eighteen to be eligible to vote.
She is eligible for early retirement next year.
Candidates with a valid visa are eligible to apply for the position.
Not everyone in the family is eligible for the inheritance.
Common Collocations with Eligible
- eligible for a scholarship / grant / discount
- eligible to vote / apply / retire
- eligible candidate / eligible voter
- eligibility criteria (the noun form)
Using Illegible
Illegible describes writing or print that cannot be read or deciphered, usually because it is messy, faded, smudged, or badly formed. It is the opposite of legible (easy to read).
The doctor's prescription was almost illegible.
Years of rain had made the gravestone inscription illegible.
Please print clearly — your signature is illegible.
The old manuscript is partly illegible due to water damage.
His fast, cramped handwriting is famously illegible.
Legible vs Illegible
Legible means easy to read; illegible is its opposite, formed with the negative prefix il- (a version of in- used before words beginning with l). This same prefix pattern appears in other pairs such as legal/illegal and literate/illiterate, a topic covered in more depth on our word formation page, which explains how prefixes like il-, in-, and im- change the meaning of a base word.
- Please write legibly on the form.
- His handwriting became increasingly illegible with age.
Where the Words Come From
Eligible derives from the Latin eligere, meaning "to choose" or "to select" (the same root gives us elect and election). Illegible derives from the Latin legere, meaning "to read" (the same root gives us legible, legend, and lecture), combined with the negative prefix il-. Despite looking similar, the two words share no etymological connection — the resemblance is pure coincidence of spelling.
Common Mistakes
✗ He is illegible for the loan because of his credit history.
✓ He is ineligible for the loan because of his credit history.
✗ Your handwriting is completely eligible.
✓ Your handwriting is completely illegible.
✗ She was illegible to enter the competition because she was too young.
✓ She was ineligible to enter the competition because she was too young.
✗ The form is elligible only for residents.
✓ The form is eligible only for residents. (one L, not two)
Mini-Quiz
Test your understanding with an interactive exercise:
- Grammar Quiz — choose the correct word in multiple-choice questions.
- Cloze Dropdown — fill in the blank with eligible or illegible.
Quick Check: Eligible or Illegible?
Four questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “You must be over 18 to be ___ to vote.”
2. “The doctor's handwriting was completely ___.”
3. “Which word relates to the Latin verb meaning ‘to choose’?”
4. “Water damage made the manuscript almost ___.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between eligible and illegible?
Eligible means qualified or entitled to do or receive something, such as vote, apply, or receive a benefit: "She is eligible for a scholarship." Illegible means impossible or very hard to read, usually because of messy handwriting or poor print quality: "His handwriting is illegible." The two words look similar but come from entirely different Latin roots and have no meaning in common.
What is the opposite of eligible?
The opposite of eligible is ineligible, meaning not qualified or not entitled: "He was ineligible for the loan because of his credit history." Note that the negative form of eligible is ineligible, not illegible — a very common mix-up. Illegible is a completely separate word describing unreadable writing, not a lack of qualification.
Where do the words eligible and illegible come from?
Eligible comes from the Latin eligere, meaning "to choose" or "to select" — the same root that gives us elect and election. Illegible comes from the Latin legere, meaning "to read" — the same root that gives us legible, legend, and lecture — combined with the negative prefix il-. Despite their similar spelling, the two words are etymologically unrelated; the resemblance is coincidental.
What is the difference between illegible and illegal?
Illegible means impossible to read: "The faded label was illegible." Illegal means against the law: "Driving without a licence is illegal." Both use the negative prefix il- (a form of in- used before words starting with l), but they attach to different roots — legere (to read) for illegible, and lex/legalis (law) for illegal. They are unrelated in meaning despite the similar prefix and spelling pattern.
Can "eligible" be used with people and things?
Yes. Eligible is most often used with people: "eligible voters," "eligible candidates," "an eligible bachelor" (a person suitable for marriage). It is also used with things and situations: "eligible expenses," "eligible for a refund," "an eligible purchase." In every case, it signals that the required conditions have been met for something to happen or be granted.
What are common collocations with eligible?
Common collocations include: eligible for (a discount, grant, scholarship, refund, promotion), eligible to (vote, apply, retire, compete), eligible candidate, eligible voter, eligible bachelor, and eligibility criteria/requirements (the related noun phrase). Eligible is almost always followed by either "for + noun" or "to + infinitive verb."
What are common collocations with illegible?
Common collocations include: illegible handwriting, illegible signature, illegible scrawl, illegible print, an illegible note/label/prescription, and "almost/nearly/completely illegible" as intensifiers. Illegible is nearly always used to describe handwriting, print, or inscriptions that cannot be deciphered, rather than spoken language.
Is "eligibility" the correct noun form of eligible?
Yes. Eligibility is the standard noun form: "You must meet the eligibility criteria before applying." The corresponding noun for illegible is illegibility, though it is used far less often: "The illegibility of the handwriting caused delays." Both nouns follow the regular -ity pattern for turning adjectives into abstract nouns.
How can I remember eligible vs illegible?
Link eligible to "elect" — both come from the same Latin root meaning "to choose," and both start with an E. Link illegible to "illiterate" — both use the il- negative prefix and relate to reading and writing. Another trick: illegible contains "leg-," the same root as legible (readable); simply remember that adding il- reverses the meaning to unreadable.
Is eligible spelled with one L or two?
Eligible has one L: e-l-i-g-i-b-l-e. A common spelling mistake is doubling the L ("elligible"), which is incorrect. Illegible, by contrast, has a doubled L at the start because the prefix il- (a form of in-) is added directly to a root beginning with l: il + legible = illegible. Keeping this prefix rule in mind helps with both spelling and meaning.