What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
spans
Example
The concert spanned three hours and included all of their greatest hits. [spanned: past tense]
Example
The bridge spans the river, connecting the two sides of the city. [spans: verb]
cover
Example
Please cover the cake with plastic wrap to keep it fresh. [cover: verb]
Example
This book covers a wide range of topics related to biology. [covers: present tense]
Example
The news station sent a reporter to cover the political rally downtown. [cover: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cover is more commonly used than spans in everyday language. Cover is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while spans is less common and refers to specific measurements of length or time.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between spans and cover?
Both spans and cover can be used in formal and informal contexts, but cover is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
