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 currently conducting a census to determine the number of households in the city. [conducting: verb]
survey
Example
We conducted a survey to understand the preferences of our customers. [survey: noun]
Example
They surveyed a random sample of students to gather data for their research. [surveyed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Survey is more commonly used than census in everyday language. Surveys are conducted by different organizations and individuals for a wide range of purposes, such as market research, customer feedback, or academic studies. On the other hand, census is a term mainly associated with official government activities.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between census and survey?
While census is typically associated with a formal and official tone, survey is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Surveys are commonly used in business settings, academic research, and even casual conversations.
