What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gels
Example
She applied some hair gel to keep her hairstyle in place. [gel: noun]
Example
The doctor used a gel to help the ultrasound probe glide smoothly over the skin. [gel: noun]
Example
I brought some energy gels to eat during the marathon. [gels: plural noun]
goo
Example
The slime was a gooey mess that stuck to everything. [goo: noun]
Example
He's been spending a lot of time with his new goo. [goo: slang noun]
Example
The caramel sauce was thick and gooey, perfect for drizzling over ice cream. [gooey: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Gels are more commonly used than goo in everyday language, especially in specific contexts such as hair styling or medical/scientific applications. Goo is less common and often used in informal or slang contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between gels and goo?
Gels are generally more formal than goo, which is often associated with informality or slang. However, both words can be used in various formality levels depending on the context.
