What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
painting
Example
She spent all day painting a beautiful landscape. [painting: verb]
Example
The museum had an exhibit of famous paintings from around the world. [paintings: noun]
Example
We need to start painting the walls before the furniture arrives. [painting: gerund or present participle]
mural
Example
The artist painted a beautiful mural on the side of the building. [mural: noun]
Example
The city commissioned a mural to be painted in the park to celebrate the community. [mural: noun]
Example
The school hired an artist to create a mural in the hallway to inspire the students. [mural: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Painting is a more common term than mural in everyday language. Painting is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mural is less common and refers to a specific type of artwork.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between painting and mural?
While painting is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, mural is more formal and often used in public or community-based contexts.
