What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
peeling
Example
I'm peeling the potatoes for dinner. [peeling: present participle]
Example
She used a peeler to remove the skin from the apple. [peeler: noun]
paring
Example
He was paring the apple with a sharp knife. [paring: present participle]
Example
She carefully pared away the bruised parts of the potato. [pared: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Peeling is more commonly used than paring in everyday language, especially when referring to fruits and vegetables. However, paring is still a useful term to know, particularly in the context of food preparation and cooking.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between peeling and paring?
Both peeling and paring are relatively informal terms that can be used in everyday conversation. However, paring may be slightly more formal due to its association with knife skills and culinary techniques.