What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
material
Example
The dress was made of a soft and silky material. [material: noun]
Example
The material used in construction must be durable and strong. [material: adjective]
Example
The teacher provided us with study materials for the upcoming exam. [materials: plural noun]
substance
Example
The substance of the cake was rich and chocolatey. [substance: noun]
Example
The argument lacked substance and was not convincing. [substance: noun]
Example
The athlete was banned from competition for using a banned substance. [substance: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Material is more commonly used than substance in everyday language and is more versatile in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between material and substance?
Both material and substance can be used in formal or technical contexts, but substance may carry a slightly more formal or technical connotation due to its specificity.
