diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/prefer-nullish-coalescing.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/prefer-nullish-coalescing.ts
index 0eaa39b1f0bb..dbb32994f16c 100644
--- a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/prefer-nullish-coalescing.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/prefer-nullish-coalescing.ts
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ export default util.createRule<Options, MessageIds>({
             return true;
           }
 
-          // it is fixable if we loosly check for eihter null or undefined
+          // it is fixable if we loosely check for either null or undefined
           if (
             (operator === '==' || operator === '!=') &&
             (hasUndefinedCheck || hasNullCheck)
@@ -191,10 +191,8 @@ export default util.createRule<Options, MessageIds>({
       ): void {
         const tsNode = parserServices.esTreeNodeToTSNodeMap.get(node);
         const type = checker.getTypeAtLocation(tsNode.left);
-        const isNullLiteralish = util.isNullableType(type, {
-          allowUndefined: true,
-        });
-        if (!isNullLiteralish) {
+        const isNullish = util.isNullableType(type, { allowUndefined: true });
+        if (!isNullish) {
           return;
         }