What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stint
Example
She had a stint as a teacher before becoming a writer. [stint: noun]
Example
He was forced to stint on his expenses after losing his job. [stint: verb]
Example
My boss gave me a stint to complete by the end of the day. [stint: task or assignment]
shift
Example
I work the night shift at the hospital. [shift: noun]
Example
She shifted her attention from her phone to the conversation. [shift: verb]
Example
He took over the shift for his colleague who was feeling sick. [shift: replacement]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shift is more commonly used than stint in everyday language. Shift is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stint is less common and typically used in the context of a specific job or task.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stint and shift?
Both stint and shift are neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
