What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sling
Example
The doctor put his arm in a sling to help it heal. [sling: noun]
Example
She slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed out the door. [slung: past tense verb]
Example
The ancient warriors used slings to launch rocks at their enemies. [sling: noun]
strap
Example
He tightened the strap on his helmet before getting on his bike. [strap: noun]
Example
She strapped the baby into the car seat before driving to the store. [strapped: past tense verb]
Example
I prefer sandals with straps instead of flip-flops. [straps: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Strap is more commonly used than sling in everyday language. Strap is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while sling is less common and often associated with medical or violent contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sling and strap?
While strap is typically associated with a functional or casual tone, sling can be more formal or specialized depending on its context of use.
