What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cowlick
Example
He has a cowlick at the front of his hairline that always sticks up. [cowlick: noun]
Example
Her hair was so thick and curly that it was hard to manage the cowlicks. [cowlicks: plural noun]
whorl
Example
The detective examined the whorls on the suspect's fingerprints for identification. [whorls: plural noun]
Example
The snail's shell had a beautiful whorl pattern that spiraled towards the center. [whorl: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cowlick is more commonly used in everyday language, especially in the context of hair styling or grooming. Whorl is less common and often used in technical or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cowlick and whorl?
Whorl is generally more formal than cowlick, as it is often used in technical or scientific writing. However, both words can be used in a variety of formality levels depending on the context.
