What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
haphazard
Example
The books on the shelf were arranged in a haphazard manner. [haphazard: adjective]
Example
He haphazardly threw his clothes into the suitcase before leaving for the airport. [haphazardly: adverb]
random
Example
The lottery numbers are chosen at random. [random: adjective]
Example
She randomly picked a book from the shelf without knowing anything about it. [randomly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Random is more commonly used than haphazard in everyday language. Random is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while haphazard is less common and typically used in specific contexts to describe disorganization or carelessness.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between haphazard and random?
Both haphazard and random are relatively informal words, but haphazard may be slightly more informal due to its negative connotation.
