What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ridden
Example
The horse was ridden by the jockey in the race. [ridden: verb]
Example
The country was ridden with corruption and political unrest. [ridden: adjective]
Example
She was ridden with guilt after lying to her friend. [ridden: past participle]
governed
Example
The country is governed by a democratically elected president. [governed: verb]
Example
The company's policies are governed by strict ethical guidelines. [governed: adjective]
Example
The board of directors governs the operations of the organization. [governs: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Governed is more commonly used than ridden in formal and academic contexts, while ridden is more commonly used in informal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ridden and governed?
Governed is a more formal word than ridden and is commonly used in academic or professional contexts, while ridden is more informal and is commonly used in everyday language.
