What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
prosaism
Example
The politician's speech was filled with prosaisms and lacked any real substance. [prosaism: noun]
Example
She rolled her eyes at the prosaic response from her coworker. [prosaic: adjective]
platitude
Example
The graduation speech was full of platitudes about following your dreams. [platitude: noun]
Example
He dismissed her argument as a mere platitude, lacking any real substance. [platitude: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Platitude is more commonly used than prosaism in everyday language. Platitude is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while prosaism is less common and tends to be used more in literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between prosaism and platitude?
Both prosaism and platitude are considered formal words, but prosaism is more likely to be used in academic or literary settings, while platitude is more likely to be used in everyday speech.