What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
documental
Example
The documental about climate change was very informative. [documental: adjective]
Example
I read a documental about the history of the Roman Empire. [documental: noun]
documentary
Example
The documentary about the life of dolphins was visually stunning. [documentary: adjective]
Example
I watched a documentary about the impact of social media on mental health. [documentary: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Documentary is more commonly used than documental in English-speaking countries. Documentary is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while documental is less common and may sound more formal or technical.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between documental and documentary?
While documental may sound more formal or technical, documentary is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
