What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hutch
Example
She kept her china collection in the hutch in the dining room. [hutch: noun]
Example
The rabbit was kept in a hutch in the backyard. [hutch: noun]
Example
The tiny house had a hutch for storing clothes and other items. [hutch: noun]
pen
Example
The cows were kept in a pen near the barn. [pen: noun]
Example
She wrote a letter with a pen and paper. [pen: noun]
Example
The prisoners were locked up in their pens for the night. [pens: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pen is more commonly used than hutch in everyday language. Pen is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hutch is less common and refers to specific types of enclosures or cabinets.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hutch and pen?
Both hutch and pen are relatively informal words, but pen may be used in more formal contexts, such as legal or administrative documents, where it refers to a place of confinement or detention.
