What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hand
Example
She held the pencil in her hand. [hand: noun]
Example
He has a good hand for drawing. [hand: noun]
Example
Can you hand me the book? [hand: verb]
paw
Example
The kitten batted at the toy with its paw. [paw: noun]
Example
The dog has a great paw-eye coordination. [paw: noun]
Example
The bear pawed at the fish in the river. [paw: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hand is much more commonly used than paw in everyday language, as it is a versatile term used in various contexts. Paw is less common and is mostly used in animal-related contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hand and paw?
Hand is more formal and versatile, while paw is less formal and specific to animal-related contexts.
