What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ranging
Example
The menu offers dishes ranging from spicy to mild. [ranging: present participle]
Example
The temperature outside is ranging from 70 to 80 degrees. [ranging: verb]
spanning
Example
The bridge spanning the river is over a mile long. [spanning: present participle]
Example
Her career spanning over 20 years has been very successful. [spanning: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ranging is more commonly used than spanning in everyday language. Ranging is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while spanning is less common and is typically used in the context of describing distance or duration.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ranging and spanning?
Both ranging and spanning are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
