What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
formative
Example
The formative years of childhood are crucial for cognitive and emotional development. [formative: adjective]
Example
The feedback from her teacher during her formative years in school helped shape her writing skills. [formative: noun]
constructive
Example
Instead of criticizing, try to offer constructive feedback that can help improve the project. [constructive: adjective]
Example
The team worked together to come up with constructive solutions to the problem. [constructive: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Constructive is more commonly used than formative in everyday language. Constructive is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while formative is less common and is typically used in educational or developmental settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between formative and constructive?
Both formative and constructive can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, formative may be more commonly used in academic or professional settings, while constructive can be used in a wider range of situations.
