What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
accumulated
Example
Over the years, he accumulated a vast collection of books. [accumulated: verb]
Example
The accumulated dust on the shelves made her sneeze. [accumulated: adjective]
collected
Example
She collected all the necessary documents for the meeting. [collected: verb]
Example
Despite the chaos around her, she remained collected and focused. [collected: adjective]
Example
He spent the afternoon collecting and organizing his stamp collection. [collecting: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Collected is more commonly used than accumulated in everyday language, especially in the context of information or data. Accumulated is less common and often used in the context of physical objects or abstract concepts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between accumulated and collected?
Both accumulated and collected are relatively formal words and may not be commonly used in casual conversation. However, collected may be more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while accumulated may be more limited to formal or technical contexts.
