What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
traction
Example
The car's tires lost traction on the icy road. [traction: noun]
Example
The hiker used crampons to gain traction on the slippery slope. [traction: noun]
grip
Example
She had a firm grip on the handlebars. [grip: noun]
Example
The shoes have good grip on the wet pavement. [grip: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Grip is more commonly used than traction in everyday language. Grip is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while traction is more technical and specialized.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between traction and grip?
Both traction and grip can be used in formal and informal contexts, but traction is more commonly used in technical or specialized contexts, making it slightly more formal than grip.
