What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dispersing
Example
The wind was dispersing the leaves all over the yard. [dispersing: verb]
Example
The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters. [disperse: verb]
Example
The scientist was dispersing the dye evenly throughout the solution. [dispersing: gerund or present participle]
disseminate
Example
The organization's goal is to disseminate information about climate change. [disseminate: verb]
Example
The newspaper disseminated the news of the election results to its readers. [disseminated: past tense]
Example
The professor was disseminating his research findings through various academic journals. [disseminating: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disseminate is more commonly used than dispersing in everyday language. Disseminate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dispersing is less common and refers to a specific type of spreading out.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dispersing and disseminate?
Disseminate is typically associated with a more formal tone, while dispersing can be used in both formal and informal contexts.