What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
escritoire
Example
She sat down at her escritoire to write a letter. [escritoire: noun]
Example
The old library had a beautiful escritoire with carved wooden legs. [escritoire: noun]
secretary
Example
The secretary answered the phone and took a message. [secretary: noun]
Example
He sat down at his secretary to write a memo. [secretary: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Secretary is more commonly used than escritoire in everyday language. Secretary is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while escritoire is less common and may be considered outdated or vintage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between escritoire and secretary?
Escritoire is typically associated with a more formal and traditional tone, while secretary can be used in both formal and informal contexts, allowing it to be used in a wider range of situations.
