What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shallowly
Example
The river was shallow, so we could easily cross it. [shallow: adverb]
Example
He only skimmed the surface of the book and understood it shallowly. [shallowly: adverb]
superficially
Example
She superficially cleaned the kitchen, but didn't really scrub the counters. [superficially: adverb]
Example
He only knew about the topic superficially and couldn't answer any detailed questions. [superficially: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Superficially is more commonly used than shallowly in everyday language. Superficially is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while shallowly is less common and refers to a specific lack of depth.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shallowly and superficially?
Both shallowly and superficially are relatively informal words, but superficially can be used in more formal contexts due to its wider range of applications.
