What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
thing
Example
Can you hand me that thing over there? [thing: noun]
Example
I can't quite put my finger on the thing that's bothering me. [thing: noun]
Example
Things are getting better now that we have a plan. [things: pronoun]
article
Example
I need to buy an article of clothing for the party. [article: noun]
Example
She wrote an interesting article about the benefits of meditation. [article: noun]
Example
The contract includes an article about intellectual property rights. [article: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Thing is more commonly used than article in everyday language. Thing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while article is more formal and academic, often used in writing or legal documents.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between thing and article?
Article is typically associated with a formal and academic tone, while thing is more casual and informal, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
