What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
traced
Example
The detective traced the suspect's movements through the city. [traced: verb]
Example
She traced her family tree back to the 17th century. [traced: past tense]
Example
He traced the outline of the flower onto the paper. [traced: verb]
track
Example
The runners raced around the track for the championship. [track: noun]
Example
I tracked my package online to see when it would arrive. [tracked: past tense]
Example
She tracks her daily expenses in a spreadsheet. [tracks: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Track is more commonly used than traced in everyday language. Track is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while traced is less common and may be considered more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between traced and track?
While traced is typically associated with a more formal or literary tone, track is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.