What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
corroborating
Example
The witness's testimony corroborated the defendant's alibi. [corroborated: past tense verb]
Example
The data from the study was corroborated by similar findings in other research. [corroborated: past participle verb]
substantiating
Example
The DNA evidence substantiated the prosecution's case against the suspect. [substantiated: past tense verb]
Example
The report included data and statistics to substantiate the author's claims. [substantiate: present tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Substantiating is slightly more common than corroborating in everyday language, but both words are more likely to be used in formal or academic contexts rather than casual conversation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between corroborating and substantiating?
Both corroborating and substantiating are formal words that are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing. However, substantiating may be slightly more formal due to its association with legal or technical language.
