What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scattered
Example
The scattered leaves on the ground made it difficult to walk. [scattered: adjective]
Example
She scattered the papers on her desk while looking for the report. [scattered: verb]
scatter
Example
He decided to scatter the seeds in the garden to see where they would grow best. [scatter: verb]
Example
The scatter of stars in the sky was breathtaking. [scatter: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scatter is more commonly used than scattered in everyday language. Scatter is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while scattered is less common and used mainly to describe the state of things.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between scattered and scatter?
Both scattered and scatter are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
