What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gist
Example
I didn't catch everything he said, but I got the gist of it. [gist: noun]
Example
Can you give me the gist of the article before I read it? [gist: noun]
substance
Example
The substance of the cake was too dry. [substance: noun]
Example
The substance of his argument was that we need to invest more in education. [substance: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Substance is more commonly used than gist in everyday language. Substance is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while gist is less common and usually used in specific contexts such as summarizing a text or conversation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between gist and substance?
Both gist and substance can be used in formal and informal contexts, but substance is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
