What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rue
Example
I rue the day I decided to quit my job. [rue: verb]
Example
He felt a deep sense of rue for not attending his friend's wedding. [rue: noun]
bemoan
Example
She bemoaned the fact that she had to work on the weekend. [bemoan: verb]
Example
The team's coach bemoaned their loss in the championship game. [bemoaned: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Bemoan is more commonly used than rue in everyday language. Bemoan is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rue is less common and more formal, often used in literary or poetic contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between rue and bemoan?
Rue is typically associated with a more formal tone, while bemoan can be used in both formal and informal contexts, allowing it to be employed in a wider range of situations.