What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sappiness
Example
The movie was criticized for its sappiness and lack of subtlety. [sappiness: noun]
Example
I can't stand the sappiness of those romantic comedies. [sappiness: noun]
sentimentality
Example
His speech was filled with sentimentality and lacked substance. [sentimentality: noun]
Example
She has a sentimental attachment to her childhood home. [sentimental: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sentimentality is more commonly used than sappiness in everyday language. Sentimentality is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while sappiness is less common and is often used in more informal or colloquial settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sappiness and sentimentality?
While sappiness is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, sentimentality can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
