What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ploughing
Example
The farmer spent all day ploughing the field. [ploughing: gerund or present participle]
Example
We need to plough the land before we can plant anything. [plough: verb]
tilling
Example
The gardener spent the morning tilling the soil in the garden. [tilling: gerund or present participle]
Example
We need to till the soil before we can plant the seeds. [till: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tilling is more commonly used than ploughing in everyday language. Tilling is a more general term that covers a wider range of soil preparation techniques, while ploughing specifically refers to the use of a plough to turn over the soil.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between ploughing and tilling?
Both ploughing and tilling are associated with a formal and technical tone, as they are primarily used in agricultural contexts.