What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
untended
Example
The garden was overgrown and untended for months. [untended: adjective]
Example
The wound was left untended and became infected. [untended: past participle]
unattended
Example
The child was left unattended in the car. [unattended: adjective]
Example
The phone rang unattended for hours. [unattended: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unattended is more commonly used than untended in everyday language. Unattended is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while untended is less common and refers specifically to physical objects or places that have been neglected.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between untended and unattended?
Both untended and unattended are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
