What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
buffing
Example
He spent hours buffing his car to make it shine. [buffing: verb]
Example
The shoe shiner was busy buffing the leather shoes to give them a glossy finish. [buffing: gerund or present participle]
shining
Example
She spent the afternoon shining her silverware until it sparkled. [shining: verb]
Example
The janitor was busy shining the floors to make them look clean and polished. [shining: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shining is more commonly used than buffing in everyday language. Shining is versatile and can be used to describe the act of making various objects or surfaces bright and glossy. Buffing, on the other hand, is less common and is typically associated with specific industries or professional settings.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between buffing and shining?
Both buffing and shining can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, buffing is more commonly associated with industrial or professional settings, which may give it a slightly more formal connotation compared to shining.
