What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stroke
Example
She stroked her cat's fur gently. [stroke: verb]
Example
He is an expert at the butterfly stroke. [stroke: noun]
Example
The patient suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. [stroke: noun]
hit
Example
The baseball player hit the ball out of the park. [hit: verb]
Example
The car hit the tree and caused significant damage. [hit: verb]
Example
Domestic violence is never acceptable, and hitting someone is a criminal offense. [hitting: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hit is more commonly used than stroke in everyday language. Hit is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stroke is less common and refers to specific actions such as petting animals or swimming techniques.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stroke and hit?
While stroke is typically associated with a formal and technical tone in medical contexts, hit is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
