What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
thematically
Example
The movie explores the theme of love and loss thematically. [thematically: adverb]
Example
The book is thematically rich, with many different ideas and concepts woven together. [thematically: adjective]
topically
Example
The article discusses the topic of climate change topically. [topically: adverb]
Example
The play deals with topical issues such as politics and social justice. [topical: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Topical is more commonly used than thematically in everyday language. Topical is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while thematically is less common and is typically used in literary or artistic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between thematically and topically?
While thematically is typically associated with a more academic or intellectual tone, topically is more neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
