What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
roughen
Example
The sandpaper will roughen the surface of the wood. [roughen: verb]
Example
The waves began to roughen the surface of the ocean. [roughening: gerund or present participle]
harden
Example
The clay will harden in the sun. [harden: verb]
Example
The steel was hardened by the heat treatment process. [hardened: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Harden is more commonly used than roughen in everyday language. Harden is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while roughen is less common and refers to a specific type of surface modification.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between roughen and harden?
While roughen is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, harden is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
