What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
crawl
Example
The baby learned to crawl before learning to walk. [crawl: verb]
Example
The traffic was crawling along the highway due to the accident. [crawling: present participle]
Example
She swam the crawl stroke in the race. [crawl: noun]
scuttle
Example
The crab scuttled across the beach and into the water. [scuttle: verb]
Example
He scuttled away from the scene of the crime before anyone saw him. [scuttled: past tense]
Example
The captain ordered the crew to scuttle the ship to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. [scuttle: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Crawl is more commonly used than scuttle in everyday language. Crawl is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while scuttle is less common and has more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between crawl and scuttle?
Both crawl and scuttle are informal words, but crawl can be used in more formal contexts than scuttle due to its versatility and neutral connotation.