What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dispersed
Example
The houses in this neighborhood are dispersed, making it difficult to walk to the store. [dispersed: adjective]
Example
The teacher dispersed the papers to the students. [dispersed: verb]
Example
The protesters dispersed after the police arrived. [dispersed: past tense]
scattered
Example
The scattered leaves on the ground made it difficult to walk. [scattered: adjective]
Example
The toys were scattered all over the room. [scattered: past participle]
Example
The group of friends scattered after the party ended. [scattered: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scattered is more commonly used than dispersed in everyday language. Scattered is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dispersed is less common and often used in more formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dispersed and scattered?
While dispersed is typically associated with a more formal or technical tone, scattered is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
