What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
abruptly
Example
The music stopped abruptly, leaving the audience in silence. [abruptly: adverb]
Example
He ended the conversation abruptly, leaving me confused. [abruptly: adverb]
abrupt
Example
The abrupt change in weather caught us off guard. [abrupt: adjective]
Example
She gave an abrupt answer, making everyone uncomfortable. [abrupt: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Abrupt is more commonly used than abruptly in everyday language. Abrupt is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while abruptly is less common and more specific in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between abruptly and abrupt?
Abruptly is more formal than abrupt, which is often used in informal contexts. However, both words can be used in various formality levels depending on the context and tone of the sentence.
