What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
drafting
Example
I spent hours drafting my research paper before submitting it. [drafting: verb]
Example
The architect is skilled in drafting blueprints for buildings. [drafting: noun]
Example
She enjoys drafting sketches of her fashion designs in her free time. [drafting: gerund or present participle]
tracing
Example
She traced the outline of the flower onto the paper. [traced: past tense]
Example
The hiker traced the trail through the forest with ease. [traced: verb]
Example
The historian spent years tracing the origins of the ancient artifact. [tracing: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Drafting is more commonly used than tracing in technical and professional contexts, while tracing is more commonly used in artistic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between drafting and tracing?
Drafting is generally considered more formal than tracing, as it is often used in technical and professional settings that require precision and accuracy.