What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
redact
Example
The lawyer had to redact some confidential information from the legal document. [redact: verb]
Example
The author spent hours redacting her manuscript before submitting it to the publisher. [redacting: gerund or present participle]
censor
Example
The government censored the news article to prevent sensitive information from being leaked. [censor: verb]
Example
The movie was heavily censored before it could be released in the country. [censored: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Redact is less commonly used than censor in everyday language. Redact is more specific and is often used in professional or legal contexts, while censor has a broader range of applications and is more commonly used in media and political contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between redact and censor?
Redact is generally considered a more formal word than censor. It is often used in legal, academic, or technical writing, while censor can be used in both formal and informal contexts.