What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rations
Example
The soldiers were given daily rations of food and water. [rations: noun]
Example
The government had to ration the fuel supply during the energy crisis. [ration: verb]
quota
Example
The company set a quota of 100 units per day for each employee. [quota: noun]
Example
The government imposed a quota on the number of immigrants allowed to enter the country. [quota: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Quota is more commonly used than rations in everyday language, especially in business or economic contexts. Rations is more specific and associated with emergency or scarcity situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rations and quota?
Both rations and quota are formal terms and are often used in official or bureaucratic contexts. However, quota is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels, while rations is typically associated with a serious and urgent tone.
