The word "stemper" can be spelled with two possible variations: /ˈstɛmpər/ or /ˈstɛmpər/. The phonetic transcription shows that both variations have the stress on the first syllable /stɛm/, followed by the unstressed vowel schwa sound /ər/. The only difference between these two variations is the letter "m" in the second syllable. Although not commonly used, "stemper" with a double "m" may be preferred to avoid confusion with the word "steeper". Regardless of the spelling, "stemper" refers to a device used to maintain a consistent temperature or to temper materials.