What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
excess
Example
The excess sugar in the cake made it too sweet. [excess: noun]
Example
He was charged with excess speeding on the highway. [excess: adjective]
extra
Example
I ordered extra cheese on my pizza. [extra: adjective]
Example
Can you give me an extra pen? [extra: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Extra is more commonly used than excess in everyday language. Extra is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while excess is less common and tends to be used in more formal or technical contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between excess and extra?
Excess is more formal than extra, which is often used in casual conversation. However, both words can be used in formal or informal contexts depending on the situation.
