What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
miscellany
Example
The museum had a miscellany of artifacts from different cultures. [miscellany: noun]
Example
The book is a miscellany of short stories and poems. [miscellany: noun]
variety
Example
The store offers a variety of fruits and vegetables. [variety: noun]
Example
I like to listen to a variety of music genres. [variety: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Variety is more commonly used than miscellany in everyday language. Variety is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while miscellany is less common and often used in specific contexts, such as describing a collection of written works.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between miscellany and variety?
Both miscellany and variety are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
