What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
triage
Example
The hospital used triage to determine which patients needed immediate attention. [triage: noun]
Example
We need to triage our tasks for the day and focus on the most urgent ones first. [triage: verb]
sorting
Example
She spent the afternoon sorting her clothes by color and season. [sorting: gerund]
Example
The data analyst is responsible for sorting the company's financial records. [sorting: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sorting is more commonly used than triage in everyday language. Sorting is a versatile term that can be applied to many different situations, while triage is more specific to medical or emergency contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between triage and sorting?
Both triage and sorting can be used in formal and informal contexts, but triage may be more commonly associated with a formal or technical tone due to its use in medical settings.