What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
carbonized
Example
The wood was carbonized in the kiln to create charcoal. [carbonized: past tense]
Example
The archaeologists found carbonized remains of ancient plants. [carbonized: adjective]
char
Example
The toast got charred because I left it in the toaster for too long. [charred: past tense]
Example
The chef likes to char the vegetables to give them a smoky flavor. [char: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Char is more commonly used than carbonize in everyday language, especially in cooking or describing burnt or blackened surfaces. Carbonize is more specialized and commonly used in scientific or technical contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between carbonized and char?
While char is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, carbonize is more formal and typically used in scientific or technical discussions.
