What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
subtle
Example
The painting had subtle shades of blue and green. [subtle: adjective]
Example
There was a subtle change in her tone of voice that indicated she was upset. [subtle: adjective]
Example
He used subtle hints to suggest that he wanted to leave the party early. [subtle: adjective]
fine
Example
The fine china was delicate and beautiful. [fine: adjective]
Example
She had fine hair that was difficult to style. [fine: adjective]
Example
There's a fine line between being confident and being arrogant. [fine: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fine is more commonly used than subtle in everyday language. Fine is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while subtle is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between subtle and fine?
Both subtle and fine can be used in formal and informal contexts, but fine is generally considered more formal due to its association with high quality and craftsmanship.
