What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
strewn
Example
The floor was strewn with toys after the children finished playing. [strewn: past participle]
Example
The beach was strewn with shells and seaweed. [strewn: verb]
scattered
Example
The leaves were scattered all over the ground after the windstorm. [scattered: past participle]
Example
The crowd scattered when the police arrived. [scattered: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scattered is more commonly used than strewn in everyday language. Scattered is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while strewn is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between strewn and scattered?
Both strewn and scattered are relatively formal words and are not commonly used in casual conversation. However, scattered is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
