What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shedding
Example
My dog is shedding a lot of fur this season. [shedding: present participle]
Example
I'm shedding some old clothes that don't fit me anymore. [shedding: gerund]
Example
She was shedding tears of joy when she heard the good news. [shedding: verb]
sloughing
Example
Exfoliating helps with sloughing off dead skin cells. [sloughing: present participle]
Example
He's been sloughing off his bad habits and making positive changes in his life. [sloughing: gerund]
Example
The old paint is sloughing off the walls, so we need to repaint them. [sloughing: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shedding is more commonly used than sloughing in everyday language, and it covers a wider range of contexts. Sloughing is more technical and less common, and it is often used in medical or scientific contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between shedding and sloughing?
Both shedding and sloughing are neutral in terms of formality, and they can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
