What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
falteringly
Example
She spoke falteringly, unsure of what to say next. [falteringly: adverb]
Example
The old man walked falteringly with the help of a cane. [falteringly: adverb]
unsteadily
Example
The toddler walked unsteadily across the room, still learning to balance. [unsteadily: adverb]
Example
The athlete's performance was unsteady throughout the competition, with moments of brilliance and moments of weakness. [unsteady: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unsteadily is more commonly used than falteringly in everyday language. Unsteadily is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while falteringly is less common and more specific to speech.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between falteringly and unsteadily?
Both falteringly and unsteadily are relatively formal words, suitable for use in academic or professional contexts where precision of language is important.