What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
topic
Example
The topic of today's lecture is climate change. [topic: noun]
Example
Let's stay on topic and discuss the issue at hand. [topic: adjective]
matter
Example
The matter of the missing documents needs to be investigated. [matter: noun]
Example
It doesn't matter what color shirt you wear. [matter: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Topic is more commonly used than matter in everyday language, especially in academic or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between topic and matter?
Topic is generally considered more formal than matter, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
