What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scanty
Example
The restaurant served a scanty portion of food for the price. [scanty: adjective]
Example
She wore a scanty bikini to the beach. [scanty: adjective]
Example
The village had a scanty water supply during the drought. [scanty: adjective]
sparse
Example
The forest was sparse with trees, making it easy to navigate. [sparse: adjective]
Example
The town was sparse with people, making it feel deserted. [sparse: adjective]
Example
The report was sparse on details, leaving many questions unanswered. [sparse: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sparse is more commonly used than scanty in everyday language. Sparse is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while scanty is less common and refers to a specific type of scarcity.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between scanty and sparse?
Both scanty and sparse are considered formal words and are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing.
