What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
planing
Example
He spent the afternoon planing the rough edges of the wooden table. [planing: gerund]
Example
The carpenter used a hand plane to smooth out the surface of the board. [plane: noun]
smoothing
Example
She spent hours smoothing the surface of the clay vase until it was perfectly even. [smoothing: gerund]
Example
The painter used sandpaper to smooth out the rough spots on the wall before painting. [smooth: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Smoothing is more commonly used than planing in everyday language. Smoothing is a versatile term that can be applied to a wide range of materials and contexts, while planing is more specific to woodworking and related crafts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between planing and smoothing?
Both planing and smoothing are technical terms that are more likely to be used in formal or specialized contexts. However, smoothing may be more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings.
