What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ploy
Example
His ploy to get the promotion involved spreading rumors about his colleagues. [ploy: noun]
Example
She used a clever ploy to get her kids to eat their vegetables. [ploy: adjective]
tactic
Example
The coach's tactics helped the team win the game. [tactics: noun]
Example
She employed a new tactic to increase sales for her business. [tactic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tactic is more commonly used than ploy in everyday language. Tactic is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ploy is less common and refers to a more specific type of strategy.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ploy and tactic?
While ploy is typically associated with a negative or informal tone, tactic is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
