What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
graze
Example
The cows grazed in the field all day. [grazed: verb]
Example
He suffered a graze on his knee after falling off his bike. [graze: noun]
scratch
Example
She scratched her name on the tree trunk with a knife. [scratched: verb]
Example
He had a scratch on his arm from climbing over the fence. [scratch: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scratch is more commonly used than graze in everyday language. Scratch is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while graze is less common and often used in specific contexts such as animal feeding or superficial injuries.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between graze and scratch?
While graze is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, scratch is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.