What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
quirk
Example
One of his quirks is that he always wears mismatched socks. [quirk: noun]
Example
The story took a strange quirk when the protagonist suddenly disappeared. [quirk: noun]
Example
The design of the building has a quirky feature that makes it stand out. [quirky: adjective]
oddity
Example
The old antique shop was full of oddities and curiosities. [oddities: noun]
Example
It was an oddity to see a cat swimming in the lake. [oddity: noun]
Example
He was an oddity in the group because of his unconventional ideas. [oddity: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Oddity is more commonly used than quirk in everyday language. Oddity is a more versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while quirk is less common and is typically used in informal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between quirk and oddity?
While oddity can be used in both formal and informal contexts, quirk is more commonly used in informal contexts and may not be appropriate for formal writing or speech.
