A few bold writers have decided that knowing the difference between hardy vs. hearty doesn’t matter. Such authors are foolhardy, indeed.

Hardy means to be “strong” or “bold.” A hardy person can handle tough conditions. For example: They must be truly hardy folk to survive a Minnesota winter.

Hearty means to “express warmly.” For example: Santa Claus gave a hearty laugh.

A quick tip for remembering the difference: A pirate who survives a sea storm is hardy, but when he later boasts about it, his laugh is hearty.