What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pretension
Example
His pretensions of being a great artist were quickly exposed when his work was criticized. [pretensions: noun]
Example
She spoke with such pretension that it was hard to take her seriously. [pretension: noun]
pretense
Example
He put on a pretense of being happy, but his friends could tell he was struggling. [pretense: noun]
Example
She made the pretense of being interested in his story, but she was really just being polite. [pretense: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pretense is more commonly used than pretension in everyday language. Pretense is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pretension is less common and may be seen as more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pretension and pretense?
Both pretension and pretense can be used in formal or informal contexts, but pretension may be seen as more formal or literary due to its less common usage.
