What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shave
Example
He shaved his beard this morning. [shaved: past tense]
Example
I need to shave my legs before going to the beach. [shave: verb]
clip
Example
She clipped the coupons from the newspaper. [clipped: past tense]
Example
The hairdresser will clip your hair to the desired length. [clip: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Clip is more commonly used than shave in everyday language. Clip is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while shave is less common and refers specifically to the act of removing hair from the face or body.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shave and clip?
While clip is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, shave can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when referring to personal grooming or hygiene.