What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gap
Example
There is a gap between the two buildings. [gap: noun]
Example
There is a gap in my knowledge of history. [gap: noun]
Example
I took a gap year before starting college. [gap: adjective]
lapse
Example
I had a lapse in judgment and said something I regretted. [lapse: noun]
Example
It's been a lapse of three years since we last saw each other. [lapse: noun]
Example
My insurance policy will lapse if I don't renew it by the end of the month. [lapse: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Gap is more commonly used than lapse in everyday language. Gap is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while lapse is less common and often used in specific contexts, such as legal or medical.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between gap and lapse?
Both gap and lapse are neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
