What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
promising
Example
The new product has promising sales figures. [promising: adjective]
Example
The young athlete has a promising future ahead of him. [promising: adjective]
encouraging
Example
The teacher gave an encouraging speech to the students before the exam. [encouraging: adjective]
Example
Her words were very encouraging and helped me to keep going. [encouraging: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Encouraging is more commonly used than promising in everyday language. Encouraging is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while promising is less common and refers to a specific type of potential success or improvement.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between promising and encouraging?
Both promising and encouraging can be used in formal and informal contexts, but promising may be more appropriate in professional or technical settings where objective evaluation is required.
