What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ratio
Example
The ratio of boys to girls in the class is 2:3. [ratio: noun]
Example
The ratio of sugar to flour in the recipe is 1:2. [ratio: noun]
rate
Example
The interest rate on my savings account is 2%. [rate: noun]
Example
The car was traveling at a rate of 60 miles per hour. [rate: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rate is more commonly used than ratio in everyday language. Rate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ratio is less common and often used in specific fields, such as mathematics, finance, and statistics.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ratio and rate?
Both ratio and rate can be used in formal and informal contexts, but ratio is often associated with technical or specialized language, while rate is more commonly used in everyday language.
