What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
govern
Example
The president is responsible for governing the country. [governing: verb]
Example
The governing body of the university made a decision to increase tuition fees. [governing: adjective]
rule
Example
The king ruled the kingdom with an iron fist. [ruled: past tense]
Example
The new rule prohibits smoking in public places. [rule: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Govern is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as politics or business, while rule can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between govern and rule?
Govern is more formal than rule, and is typically used in professional or academic settings.
