“links” vs. “lynx”

Use "links" for connections, chains, or a golf course; use "lynx" only for the wild cat species.

The real distinction

These are homophones for many speakers, especially with British or non-rhotic pronunciation, though the meanings share absolutely no connection — one is about connections or golf terrain, the other a wild animal. "Links" is common in technology (web links), chains, and golf (a links course). "Lynx" is exclusively a zoological term for the wild cat species. If your sentence involves connections, chains, hyperlinks, or golf courses, use "links"; if it involves the animal, use "lynx." The two meanings essentially never overlap in a single sentence, but the identical or near-identical pronunciation can still cause a stray typo, especially in fast writing that jumps between nature documentaries and technology side by side. Web and technology writing depends on "links" constantly for hyperlinks and connections between pages, while wildlife and conservation writing depends on "lynx" for describing the elusive cat and its habitat. The two rarely appear near each other, which usually makes a stray typo easy to catch on a careful reread.

Examples with “links”

• She clicked through several links before finding the article.
• The chain's links had rusted after years outdoors.
• They played a round at the historic coastal links.
• The report included links to supporting research documents.
• His bracelet was made of interlocking silver links.
• The two events shared surprising links, researchers found.
• The website listed links to every local business.
• Golfers admired the challenging layout of the seaside links.
• Broken links frustrated visitors trying to navigate the site.
• The chain-link fence had rusted links near the gate.
• They toured the famous links course along the Scottish coast.
• The article included links to three peer-reviewed studies.
• He replaced the broken links in the bicycle chain.
• The historic links hosted the championship every decade.
• The résumé included links to his portfolio projects.
• Every link in the old fence had rusted through.
• She shared the links in a follow-up email.
• The report contained dozens of outdated links.
• The email contained three broken product links.
• The webpage listed related links at the bottom.

Examples with “lynx”

• A lynx was spotted prowling near the mountain cabin.
• The Iberian lynx remains one of the world's rarest cats.
• Researchers tracked the lynx's movements using a radio collar.
• The lynx's tufted ears help it detect faint sounds.
• Snow tracks revealed a lynx had passed through overnight.
• The zoo's newest exhibit features a pair of Canada lynx.
• A lynx can leap remarkable distances when hunting prey.
• Conservationists worked to reintroduce the lynx to the region.
• The bobcat is often mistaken for its larger cousin, the lynx.
• Researchers fitted the lynx with a tracking collar.
• A lynx's spotted coat provides excellent winter camouflage.
• The lynx vanished into the underbrush within seconds.
• Only a few hundred Iberian lynx remain in the wild.
• The lynx's population has slowly rebounded since the ban.
• Trail cameras finally captured footage of the elusive lynx.
• The lynx exhibit drew crowds all weekend.
• A lynx print in the snow excited the tracking team.
• The lynx padded silently across the frozen creek.

Memory trick

"Links" ends in "-ks" like "chains," both plural words about things connected together. "Lynx" ends in "-ynx," the same unusual ending as "sphinx" — both rare, distinctive words for mysterious creatures.