What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
whorl
Example
The detective examined the whorls on the suspect's fingerprints. [whorls: noun]
Example
The rose had a beautiful whorl of petals. [whorl: noun]
coil
Example
The snake coiled itself around the tree branch. [coiled: verb]
Example
She carefully coiled the rope into a neat pile. [coiled: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Coil is more commonly used than whorl in everyday language, as it is a more versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. Whorl is less common and may be more specialized in certain fields.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between whorl and coil?
Both whorl and coil can be used in formal or informal contexts, but whorl may be more likely to appear in technical or scientific writing due to its specialized usage in fields such as botany or forensics.
