What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
yarn
Example
I bought some colorful yarn to knit a sweater. [yarn: noun]
Example
Grandma always tells us yarns about her childhood adventures. [yarns: plural noun]
Example
We spent the evening spinning yarns about our travels. [spinning yarns: verb phrase]
string
Example
I tied the package with a piece of string. [string: noun]
Example
The children made a string of paper dolls. [string: noun]
Example
He played a beautiful melody on his guitar strings. [strings: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
String is more commonly used than yarn in everyday language. String is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while yarn is less common and is mainly used in the context of knitting, crocheting, or weaving.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between yarn and string?
Both yarn and string are generally considered informal words, but string can be used in more formal contexts such as business or legal documents.
