What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stanza
Example
The poem has four stanzas, each with six lines. [stanza: noun]
Example
Let's sing the first stanza of the national anthem. [stanza: noun]
Example
In the second stanza of the story, the protagonist faces a difficult decision. [stanza: noun]
stave
Example
The musician played the melody on the top stave of the sheet music. [stave: noun]
Example
Let's practice the third stave of the song. [stave: noun]
Example
The carpenter used a stave to create the curved shape of the barrel. [stave: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stanza is more commonly used than stave in everyday language, especially in the context of poetry or literature. Stave is more specialized and is mainly used in the context of music or woodworking.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stanza and stave?
Both stanza and stave are considered formal words and are appropriate for use in academic or professional contexts.
