What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gap
Example
There's a gap in the fence where the dog can escape. [gap: noun]
Example
There's a gap in my knowledge of history between the 16th and 18th centuries. [gap: noun]
Example
There's a gap in pay between men and women in this company. [gap: noun]
hiatus
Example
The band is taking a hiatus from touring to work on their new album. [hiatus: noun]
Example
The TV show is on hiatus until next season. [hiatus: noun]
Example
There's a hiatus in the data between 1999 and 2001. [hiatus: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Gap is more common in everyday language than hiatus, which is typically used in more formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between gap and hiatus?
Hiatus is more formal than gap and is often used in academic or technical writing to describe a break or discontinuity in a series or sequence.
