What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
inspiration
Example
The beautiful scenery was an inspiration for the artist's painting. [inspiration: noun]
Example
The writer found inspiration for her novel in her own life experiences. [inspiration: noun]
motivation
Example
The promise of a promotion at work was a motivation for him to work harder. [motivation: noun]
Example
She motivated herself to exercise regularly by setting achievable goals. [motivated: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Motivation is more commonly used than inspiration in everyday language. Motivation is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while inspiration is less common and often used in creative or artistic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between inspiration and motivation?
Both inspiration and motivation can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but inspiration may be more associated with creative or artistic fields and therefore less formal in some contexts.
