What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fishtailing
Example
The car started fishtailing on the icy road, and I had to quickly regain control. [fishtailing: verb]
Example
The driver lost control of the car, and it began fishtailing down the road. [fishtailing: gerund or present participle]
swerve
Example
The driver had to swerve to avoid hitting the deer that ran across the road. [swerve: verb]
Example
The cyclist swerved to avoid the pothole in the road. [swerved: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Swerve is more commonly used than fishtailing in everyday language. Swerve is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while fishtailing is less common and refers to a specific type of vehicle movement.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between fishtailing and swerve?
Both fishtailing and swerve are informal terms used in casual conversation. However, swerve can be used in more formal contexts, such as news reports or legal documents, to describe a sudden change in direction to avoid an accident.
