What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ford
Example
The car was able to ford the river without getting stuck. [ford: verb]
Example
The ford was a popular crossing point for traders and travelers. [ford: noun]
shallow
Example
The children played in the shallow end of the pool. [shallow: adjective]
Example
The river was too shallow for fishing. [shallow: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shallow is more commonly used than ford in everyday language. Shallow is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ford is less common and refers to a specific shallow point in a river or stream.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between ford and shallow?
Both ford and shallow are typically associated with an informal tone, but ford may be used in more technical or specialized contexts related to transportation or geography.