What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
beneficial
Example
Eating fruits and vegetables is beneficial for your health. [beneficial: adjective]
Example
Regular exercise is beneficial to maintaining a healthy weight. [beneficial: prepositional phrase]
useful
Example
A calculator is useful for solving math problems. [useful: adjective]
Example
Learning a foreign language can be useful when traveling to different countries. [useful: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Useful is more commonly used than beneficial in everyday language. Useful is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts and situations, while beneficial is less common and tends to be used in more formal or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between beneficial and useful?
While beneficial is generally associated with a more formal tone, useful can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it a more versatile word.
