What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
troublemaking
Example
The school principal warned the parents about the troublemaking student. [troublemaking: adjective]
Example
He was accused of troublemaking and was asked to leave the party. [troublemaking: noun]
mischief
Example
The children were up to some mischief in the backyard. [mischief: noun]
Example
She smiled mischievously as she played a trick on her friend. [mischievously: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mischief is more commonly used than troublemaking in everyday language. Mischief is often associated with children or youth, while troublemaking can apply to people of any age.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between troublemaking and mischief?
Both troublemaking and mischief are informal words, but troublemaking can be considered more negative and therefore less appropriate in formal contexts.
