What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overpromising
Example
The company overpromised on the delivery date and failed to meet it. [overpromised: verb]
Example
The candidate lost the election because they overpromised on what they could achieve. [overpromised: past tense]
overstate
Example
The journalist was accused of overstating the facts in their article. [overstating: gerund or present participle]
Example
The politician was criticized for overstating the impact of their policies. [overstated: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overstate is more commonly used than overpromising in everyday language. Overstate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overpromising is less common and is typically used in business or marketing contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overpromising and overstate?
Both overpromising and overstate can be used in formal or informal contexts. However, overpromising is more likely to be associated with a negative connotation and may be considered less formal than overstate.