What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ding
Example
The car door has a ding on the side from when it was hit by a shopping cart. [ding: noun]
Example
He accidentally dinged his phone against the table, causing a small scratch. [dinged: past tense verb]
scratch
Example
There's a scratch on my phone screen from when I dropped it. [scratch: noun]
Example
She accidentally scratched her car while trying to park in a tight spot. [scratched: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scratch is more commonly used than ding in everyday language. Scratch is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ding is less common and often used in specific contexts such as automotive or metalworking.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ding and scratch?
Both ding and scratch are informal words and can be used in casual conversations. However, scratch can also be used in formal contexts such as describing damages on important documents or artwork.
