What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sustaining
Example
The company is committed to sustaining its environmentally-friendly practices. [sustaining: verb]
Example
Her faith in God was sustaining during her difficult times. [sustaining: adjective]
supporting
Example
The teacher is supporting her students by providing extra resources for their learning. [supporting: verb]
Example
The supporting beams held up the roof of the building. [supporting: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Supporting is more commonly used than sustaining in everyday language. Supporting is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while sustaining is less common and typically used in more formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sustaining and supporting?
While sustaining is typically associated with a more serious and formal tone, supporting can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
