What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ravelling
Example
The hem of my dress is ravelling, and I need to fix it. [ravelling: present participle]
Example
The old sweater is ravelling at the cuffs and collar. [ravelling: gerund]
unravelling
Example
I spent hours unravelling the knots in my necklace. [unravelling: present participle]
Example
The detective was successful in unravelling the mystery surrounding the missing jewels. [unravelling: gerund]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unravelling is more commonly used than ravelling in everyday language. Unravelling is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ravelling is less common and refers to a specific type of damage or disintegration.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ravelling and unravelling?
Both ravelling and unravelling are relatively formal words that are not commonly used in everyday conversation. However, unravelling is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while ravelling is more technical and is typically used in specific contexts such as sewing or textiles.
