What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
burned
Example
The house burned down in the fire. [burned: past tense]
Example
She accidentally burned her hand on the hot stove. [burned: verb]
charred
Example
The wood was charred after being exposed to the fire. [charred: past participle]
Example
The chef charred the steak to give it a smoky flavor. [charred: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Burned is more commonly used than charred in everyday language. Burned is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while charred is more specific and less frequently used.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between burned and charred?
While both burned and charred can be used in both formal and informal contexts, burned is generally more common and can be considered more neutral in terms of formality.
