What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stutter
Example
He stuttered when he tried to say his name. [stuttered: past tense]
Example
The child's stuttering became more pronounced when she was nervous. [stuttering: gerund or present participle]
falter
Example
She faltered when she saw the size of the crowd. [faltered: past tense]
Example
The runner faltered in the last lap of the race. [faltered: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Falter is more commonly used than stutter in everyday language. Falter is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stutter is less common and refers specifically to a speech disorder.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stutter and falter?
While stutter is typically associated with a medical or clinical tone, falter is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
