What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scruffiness
Example
He showed up to the job interview in scruffy clothes. [scruffy: adjective]
Example
The old building had a certain scruffiness to it, but it had character. [scruffiness: noun]
sloppiness
Example
Her hair was sloppily tied back in a messy bun. [sloppily: adverb]
Example
The sloppy handwriting made it difficult to read the note. [sloppy: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sloppiness is more commonly used than scruffiness in everyday language. Sloppiness is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while scruffiness is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between scruffiness and sloppiness?
Both scruffiness and sloppiness are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.
