Preventive vs. Preventative Maintenance: Which One’s Correct?

Here, at Coast, we take grammar rather seriously. For instance, we stand firmly with the Associated Press (AP) style guide and don’t use the Oxford comma (a topic we know sparks quite the debate among content communities). So, when it comes to maintenance industry terminology, we felt the need to explain our stance on “preventive vs. preventative” maintenance.

Whether or not the two words are heavily debated in your maintenance circles, we wanted to dig a bit deeper to address the difference between them and why Coast prefers one over the other. Let’s dive in!

Preventive vs. Preventative: One & the Same?

Like several words in the English language, preventive and preventative mean essentially the same thing and can be used interchangeably. In the 17th century, the -ive suffix started being added to the word “prevent.” Around that same time, “preventative” evolved as a variant spelling that continues to confuse us to this day. That said, “preventive” has always been and continues to be more popular than “preventative.”

As with most words, there’s a key difference between where it’s being used and the context in which it’s being used. For instance, in British English, “preventive” and “preventative” are both used about the same amount; whereas, Americans use “preventive” about three to four times as often as “preventative.” 

In healthcare, the two are used interchangeably to describe public health screenings, well-being check-ups and immunizations or vaccines given to patients by a primary care doctor. And, of course, in the maintenance world, the two are considered synonyms as well. 

Examples of Preventive or Preventative Maintenance

Whether you say “preventive maintenance” or “preventative maintenance,” they both refer to a proactive maintenance strategy that’s used to prevent an equipment failure or breakdown. They typically refer to the preventive services completed as part of a preventive maintenance schedule. Some examples include:

• Cleaning HVAC filters
• Changing a vehicle’s engine oil at usage-based intervals (i.e., every 30,000 miles)
• Replacing parts at time-based intervals (i.e., every 200 hours of use)
• Inspecting a forklift for cracks in its structural elements  

Benefits of Preventive or Preventative Maintenance

The goal of this maintenance approach is to prevent minor issues before becoming major problems. Some key benefits of this strategy include:

• Reduces business disruptions: Having a proactive maintenance plan minimizes unplanned downtime by making equipment more reliable.
• Increases equipment lifespan: By regularly servicing equipment, you can extend its life expectancy, which means you won’t have to replace it as often.
• Controls costs: By reducing downtime, you don’t have to worry as much about costly disruptions and unexpected off-hours work that drives up labor costs.

Which One Does Coast Use?

Trust us: We get if your company has a strong opinion about whether to use “preventive” or “preventative.” At Coast, we use “preventive” because, for the most part, we follow AP style on all things grammar, and that’s what they use. We also like that it’s a shorter word, easier to say and backed by data to be the more popular choice.

Of course, if you use “preventative,” that works for us, too. After all, Coast’s software is highly customizable, making it easy to set up your maintenance workflow with whatever terminology you prefer. No matter what, we can all agree that being proactive about your maintenance will only enhance the reliability and efficiency of your maintenance operations. In fact, you can sign up for Coast for free to create your first preventive maintenance task.

As for other debates that need settling here at Coast, just ask one of us whether we prefer a fork or a spoon. (Or don’t — you won’t hear the end of it!)