What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
offscreen
Example
The director explained that the fight scene would take place offscreen. [offscreen: adverb]
Example
We heard a loud crash offscreen and wondered what had happened. [offscreen: adjective]
unseen
Example
The microscope revealed many unseen organisms in the water sample. [unseen: adjective]
Example
She felt a sense of unease at the unseen dangers lurking in the dark forest. [unseen: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unseen is more commonly used than offscreen in everyday language. Unseen is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while offscreen is more specific to the film and television industry.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between offscreen and unseen?
Both offscreen and unseen are relatively neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
