What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
garbled
Example
The phone line was garbled, and I couldn't understand what the person was saying. [garbled: adjective]
Example
The report was garbled, and it took me a while to decipher its meaning. [garbled: past participle]
jumbled
Example
The books on the shelf were jumbled, and it took me a while to find the one I was looking for. [jumbled: adjective]
Example
The instructions were jumbled, and I had a hard time following them. [jumbled: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Jumbled is more commonly used than garbled in everyday language. Jumbled is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while garbled is less common and more specific to communication or transmission.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between garbled and jumbled?
Both garbled and jumbled are relatively informal words, but garbled may be slightly more formal due to its technical connotations related to communication or transmission.
