What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
spurting
Example
The water was spurting out of the broken pipe. [spurting: verb]
Example
The blood was spurting from the wound, and it wouldn't stop. [spurting: gerund or present participle]
squirt
Example
She squirted some ketchup on her fries. [squirted: past tense]
Example
The lemon squirted juice in my eye when I squeezed it. [squirted: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Squirt is more commonly used than spurting in everyday language. Squirt is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while spurting is less common and often used in medical or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between spurting and squirt?
Both spurting and squirt are informal words that are not suitable for formal writing or speech. However, spurting may sound more technical or scientific than squirt due to its association with medical terminology.