What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
vibrating
Example
My phone is vibrating, someone must be calling me. [vibrating: present participle]
Example
The washing machine was vibrating so much that it moved across the room. [vibrating: gerund]
jittering
Example
The camera footage was jittering due to the unstable tripod. [jittering: present participle]
Example
She was jittering with excitement before her big performance. [jittering: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Vibrating is more commonly used than jittering in everyday language, especially when referring to electronic devices. Jittering is less common and is typically used in specific contexts, such as describing nervous behavior.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between vibrating and jittering?
Both vibrating and jittering are informal words and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.