What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
con
Example
The salesman tried to con me into buying a faulty product. [con: verb]
Example
He's a con artist who has been scamming people for years. [con: noun]
scam
Example
The email was a scam to steal my personal information. [scam: noun]
Example
They scammed me out of my life savings. [scammed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scam is more commonly used than con in everyday language. Scam is a versatile term that can be used in various contexts, while con is less common and often associated with a specific type of deception.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between con and scam?
Both con and scam are informal terms and are not typically used in formal contexts. However, scam may be used more frequently in news articles or legal documents to describe fraudulent activities.
