What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
poised
Example
She remained poised and confident during the job interview. [poised: adjective]
Example
The athlete was poised to make a comeback after recovering from an injury. [poised: verb]
Example
The vase was carefully poised on the edge of the shelf. [poised: past participle]
collected
Example
She remained collected and focused during the crisis. [collected: adjective]
Example
He took a deep breath to collect his thoughts before speaking. [collect: verb]
Example
The artist's work was displayed in a collected manner, with each piece complementing the others. [collected: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Poised is more commonly used than collected in everyday language.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between poised and collected?
Both poised and collected can be used in formal or informal contexts, but poised may be slightly more formal due to its association with physical posture and readiness for action.
