What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
straying
Example
The hiker realized he was straying from the trail and needed to backtrack. [straying: verb]
Example
The farmer found a stray cow on his property that had wandered away from its herd. [stray: adjective]
Example
She accused him of straying from their marriage vows. [straying: gerund or present participle]
digressing
Example
Sorry for digressing, let's get back to the main point of our discussion. [digressing: verb]
Example
The professor tends to digress during lectures, making it hard to follow the main topic. [digress: verb]
Example
The author's digressions into personal anecdotes detracted from the overall flow of the book. [digressions: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Digressing is more commonly used than straying in everyday language, especially in academic or professional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between straying and digressing?
Digressing is more formal than straying, as it is often used in academic or professional contexts to describe a speaker or writer going off-topic or veering away from the main subject of discussion.
