What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
withholding
Example
The company is required to make withholding deductions from each employee's paycheck. [withholding: noun]
Example
She was accused of withholding vital information from the authorities. [withholding: verb]
deduction
Example
The payroll department made a mistake in calculating the employee's deductions. [deductions: noun]
Example
Based on the evidence, the detective made a deduction about the suspect's whereabouts. [deduction: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Withholding and deduction are both commonly used in the context of taxes and paychecks. However, withholding is more specific to employment and taxes, while deduction can be used in various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between withholding and deduction?
Deduction is generally considered more formal than withholding, which is often used in everyday language in the context of employment and taxes.
