What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
by
Example
I traveled to work by bus. [by: preposition]
Example
The book was written by a famous author. [by: preposition]
using
Example
She baked a cake using her grandmother's recipe. [using: verb]
Example
He fixed the broken chair using a hammer and nails. [using: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Using is more commonly used than by in everyday language. Using is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while by is less common and tends to be used in more formal or specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between by and using?
While by is generally more formal, using is more informal and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
