What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
census
Example
The government conducts a census every ten years to gather information about the population. [census: noun]
Example
They are conducting a census to determine the number of households in the city. [census: verb]
enumeration
Example
The teacher asked the students to do an enumeration of all the animals they could think of. [enumeration: noun]
Example
She is enumerating the steps required to complete the project. [enumerating: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Census is more commonly used than enumeration in everyday language, especially in the context of population studies or government planning. Enumeration is less common and tends to be used in more specific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between census and enumeration?
Both census and enumeration can be used in formal contexts, especially when referring to official surveys or data collection. However, census is generally more formal due to its association with government activities and population studies.
