What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
allocated
Example
The budget was allocated to different departments based on their needs. [allocated: verb]
Example
The teacher allocated different roles to each student for the group project. [allocated: past tense]
Example
A portion of the room was allocated for storage. [allocated: adjective]
assign
Example
The manager assigned the new project to the marketing team. [assigned: past tense]
Example
Each student was assigned a different topic for the research paper. [assigned: verb]
Example
The company assigned a new laptop to each employee. [assigned: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Assign is more commonly used than allocated in everyday language. Assign is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while allocated is less common and refers to a more specific type of distribution.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between allocated and assign?
While allocated is typically associated with a formal and bureaucratic tone, assign is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.