What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
darning
Example
She spent the afternoon darning her favorite sweater. [darning: verb]
Example
Darning is a useful skill to have if you want to extend the life of your clothes. [darning: noun]
mending
Example
He spent the weekend mending the fence in his backyard. [mending: verb]
Example
Mending is an important skill to have if you want to save money on repairs. [mending: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mending is more commonly used than darning in everyday language. Mending is a versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts, while darning is less common and refers specifically to repairing holes or tears in fabric.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between darning and mending?
Both darning and mending are associated with a casual and informal tone. However, darning may be considered more old-fashioned or traditional due to its historical use in repairing clothes.
