What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rears
Example
The horse reared up on its hind legs. [reared: past tense verb]
Example
The rear of the car was damaged in the accident. [rear: noun]
tail
Example
The cat's tail twitched as it watched the bird. [tail: noun]
Example
The dog tailed his owner all the way to the park. [tailed: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tail is more commonly used than rear in everyday language. Tail is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rear is less common and has more specific uses.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rears and tail?
While rear can have a more serious or formal connotation, tail is more playful and informal in tone. Both words can be used in various formality levels, depending on the context.
