What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
grounds
Example
The grounds for his dismissal were his repeated absences from work. [grounds: noun]
Example
She had good grounds to suspect that her partner was cheating on her. [grounds: plural noun]
Example
The university grounds are beautiful in the springtime. [grounds: plural noun]
basis
Example
The basis of our argument is that everyone deserves equal treatment. [basis: noun]
Example
The company's success is built on the basis of strong teamwork and communication. [basis: noun]
Example
This recipe is a good basis for a variety of different dishes. [basis: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Basis is more commonly used than grounds in everyday language. Basis is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while grounds is less common and primarily used in legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between grounds and basis?
Both grounds and basis are relatively formal words, but grounds is more commonly associated with legal or official language.
