If a polarity tester indicates reverse polarity on a receptacle, which wires are reversed?

• A. Hot and ground wires are reversed
• B. Ground wire is missing
• C. Hot and neutral wires are reversed
• D. Neutral and ground wires are reversed

Answer: (C)

Polarity is about which conductor is hot versus neutral at an outlet. A properly wired receptacle has the hot conductor on the narrow blade and the neutral conductor on the wide blade, with the ground separate. A tester works by sensing which prong is connected to the hot path and whether the neutral side is at near-ground potential. When the tester indicates reverse polarity, it means the hot and neutral are swapped—the hot is connected to the neutral side and the neutral to the hot side. This is why the correct interpretation is that hot and neutral wires are reversed.

A missing ground would show an open-ground indication, and other fault indications would point to hot-to-ground or neutral-to-ground issues, not a simple swap of hot and neutral.