What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
erratic
Example
The stock market has been erratic lately, with sudden fluctuations in prices. [erratic: adjective]
Example
She drove erratically on the highway, swerving between lanes. [erratically: adverb]
unpredictable
Example
The weather in this region is unpredictable, with sudden changes in temperature and precipitation. [unpredictable: adjective]
Example
He has an unpredictable personality, making it hard to know how he will react in different situations. [unpredictable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unpredictable is more commonly used than erratic in everyday language. Unpredictable is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while erratic is less common and often used in specific contexts, such as describing physical movement or behavior.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between erratic and unpredictable?
Both erratic and unpredictable are relatively informal words, but erratic may be slightly more colloquial or slangy than unpredictable.
