What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
nitrous
Example
The dentist administered nitrous oxide to help the patient relax during the procedure. [nitrous: adjective]
Example
Nitrous oxide is commonly known as laughing gas due to its euphoric effects. [nitrous oxide: noun]
Example
The car enthusiast installed a nitrous kit to boost the engine's power. [nitrous: adjective]
nitric
Example
The laboratory uses nitric acid for various experiments. [nitric: adjective]
Example
Nitric compounds are essential for plant growth and development. [nitric: adjective]
Example
The cleaning solution contains nitric acid to remove rust from metal surfaces. [nitric acid: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nitric is more commonly used than nitrous in everyday language, especially in scientific and technical contexts. Nitrous is less common and may be associated with recreational drug use.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between nitrous and nitric?
Both nitrous and nitric are formal words that are used in scientific and technical contexts. However, nitric is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while nitrous is more specialized and may be considered informal in some contexts due to its association with recreational drug use.
