What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
spinal
Example
The patient underwent spinal surgery to correct a herniated disc. [spinal: adjective]
Example
The spinal cord is a vital part of the nervous system. [spinal: adjective]
spine
Example
The spine consists of 33 vertebrae. [spine: noun]
Example
The spine of the company is its dedicated employees. [spine: noun]
Example
She showed great spine in standing up for what she believed in. [spine: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spine is more commonly used than spinal in everyday language, as it has a wider range of applications. However, spinal is more common in medical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between spinal and spine?
Spinal is more technical and clinical, making it more formal than spine, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
