What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
paling
Example
The old house was surrounded by a paling fence that needed repair. [paling: noun]
Example
He spent the afternoon paling in the garden to keep the rabbits out. [paling: verb]
fence
Example
The farmer built a sturdy fence around his property to keep the livestock in. [fence: noun]
Example
She fenced off a section of the yard for her vegetable garden. [fenced: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fence is more commonly used than paling in everyday language. Fence is a more general term that covers a wider range of structures and materials, while paling is a more specific type of fence made of pointed stakes or posts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between paling and fence?
Both paling and fence can be used in formal and informal contexts, but fence is more versatile and can be employed in a wider range of formality levels.
