What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scraping
Example
He was scraping the paint off the wall with a scraper. [scraping: present participle]
Example
She scraped the mud off her shoes before entering the house. [scraped: past tense]
rubbing
Example
She was rubbing her sore neck to ease the pain. [rubbing: present participle]
Example
He rubbed the silverware until it shone. [rubbed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rubbing is more commonly used than scraping in everyday language. Rubbing is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while scraping is less common and is typically used in specific situations where something needs to be removed from a surface.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between scraping and rubbing?
Both scraping and rubbing are generally informal words, but rubbing can be used in more formal contexts such as cleaning or polishing delicate objects.
