What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
consist
Example
The salad consists of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. [consists: verb]
Example
The cake batter consists of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. [consists: verb]
Example
Her personality consists of kindness, intelligence, and humor. [consists: verb]
contain
Example
The jar contains cookies. [contains: verb]
Example
The book contains several chapters on history. [contains: verb]
Example
The budget must contain expenses within a certain limit. [contain: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Contain is more commonly used than consist in everyday language, as it has a wider range of applications and is more versatile in its usage.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between consist and contain?
Consist is more formal than contain, and is often used in academic or technical writing to describe the composition or makeup of something. Contain is more commonly used in everyday language and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
