What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
aligning
Example
The carpenter is aligning the shelves on the wall. [aligning: present participle]
Example
We need to align our goals with the company's mission statement. [align: verb]
adjust
Example
I need to adjust the temperature on the oven to bake the cake properly. [adjust: verb]
Example
After moving to a new country, it took me some time to adjust to the new culture. [adjust: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Adjust is more commonly used than align in everyday language. Adjust is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while align is less common and often used in technical or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between aligning and adjust?
Both align and adjust can be used in formal and informal contexts, but align may be perceived as more technical or specialized due to its association with precise positioning or coordination.