What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mattock
Example
He used a mattock to break up the rocky soil in his garden. [mattock: noun]
Example
She was mattocking the ground to prepare it for planting. [mattocking: verb]
adze
Example
He used an adze to shape the wooden canoe. [adze: noun]
Example
She was adzing the rough edges of the wooden beam. [adzing: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mattock is more commonly used than adze in everyday language, especially in gardening and farming contexts. Adze is less common and is mostly used in woodworking and carpentry contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mattock and adze?
Both mattock and adze are considered informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.
