What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
prorated
Example
The rent for the month was prorated since I moved in halfway through. [prorated: verb]
Example
The bonus was prorated based on the employee's time worked during the quarter. [prorated: past participle]
distributed
Example
The food was distributed evenly among the refugees. [distributed: verb]
Example
The flyers were distributed throughout the neighborhood to promote the event. [distributed: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distributed is more commonly used than prorated in everyday language. Distributed is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while prorated is more technical and specific to financial or business contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between prorated and distributed?
Both prorated and distributed can be used in formal or informal contexts, but prorated is more technical and precise, making it more suitable for formal or professional settings.