What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
nada
Example
I searched the entire house, but found nada. [nada: pronoun]
Example
He scored nada on the test. [nada: noun]
nil
Example
The team's score was nil at the end of the game. [nil: adjective]
Example
There were nil errors in the report. [nil: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nil is more commonly used than nada in formal contexts such as official documents, academic writing, and sports scores. Nada is more commonly used in casual conversation or informal writing.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between nada and nil?
Nada is informal and should be avoided in formal contexts, while nil is formal and appropriate for use in official documents, academic writing, and other formal contexts.