What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
yapping
Example
The neighbor's dog kept yapping all night, keeping me awake. [yapping: verb]
Example
I couldn't concentrate on my work with my coworker yapping on the phone all day. [yapping: present participle]
prattling
Example
My little sister kept prattling on about her dolls, and I couldn't get a word in. [prattling: present participle]
Example
The old man spent his days prattling away at the park bench, telling stories to anyone who would listen. [prattling: gerund]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prattling is more commonly used than yapping in everyday language. Prattling is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while yapping is less common and mostly used to describe dogs barking.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between yapping and prattling?
Both yapping and prattling are informal words and should be avoided in formal writing or speech.
