What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stalk
Example
The corn stalks were tall and green. [stalk: noun]
Example
The paparazzi would often stalk the celebrity, trying to get a photo. [stalk: verb]
Example
I chopped up some celery stalks for the soup. [stalks: plural noun]
stem
Example
The rose stem was thorny and green. [stem: noun]
Example
She held the wine glass by the stem to avoid warming the contents. [stem: noun]
Example
The word 'unhappiness' has the stem 'happy'. [stem: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stem is more commonly used than stalk in everyday language due to its versatility and wider range of uses.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between stalk and stem?
Both stalk and stem can be used in formal and informal contexts, but stem may be slightly more formal due to its use in technical and academic fields.
