What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
swabbing
Example
The nurse is swabbing the patient's arm before administering the injection. [swabbing: present participle]
Example
The lab technician swabbed the surface of the petri dish to collect a sample. [swabbed: past tense]
wiping
Example
I wiped the counter with a damp cloth to clean up the spilled juice. [wiped: past tense]
Example
She is wiping the dishes dry with a clean towel. [wiping: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wiping is more commonly used than swabbing in everyday language. Wiping is a versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts, while swabbing is less common and often associated with medical or laboratory settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between swabbing and wiping?
While swabbing is typically associated with a formal or technical tone, wiping is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
