What is the difference between a pint and a quart? If you do not have any idea about pint vs. quart, you need not worry because you are not alone. Pint and quart are units of volume often used for liquids and confuse many people.
The primary difference between a pint and a quart is that a pint is half a quart (1 quart = 2 pints). A pint is typically an eighth of a gallon, while a quart is a quarter of a gallon. However, the standard size of a gallon may differ in various countries.
Quart and pint are related nouns because they both refer to units of volume. While they have significant similarities, they also have distinct differences. Read on to discover the definitions, differences, applications, and sentence examples featuring these two words.
Definitions Of Pint And Quart
You have probably used or heard someone use these words before. But do you know their meanings? Below are comprehensive definitions for each word.
Definition Of Pint
A pint is a unit of liquid volume equivalent to an eighth of a gallon or 16 ounces of fluid (in the United States). This capacity unit is typically used in US’s customary systems in liquid measures. However, it also applies in dry measure, in which it is equivalent to half a quart or one-sixteenth of a peck.
In Britain’s Imperial System, a pint is a unit of volume used in dry and liquid measure, equivalent to 0.588 liters. Pint comes from the Old French “pinte,” meaning “liquid measure.”
Note: The specific quantity of a pint differs in various countries. For instance, in the US, a pint is 0.551 liters, in the UK, it is 0.558 liters, and in Canada, it is 0.568 liters.
Secondary Definitions of Pint
Besides the above definitions, other meanings of the word “pint” are, “a pint is the amount of substance that a pint capacity container can hold.’ In a sentence: The plastic jug can hold half a pint of milk. Also, a pint is an alcoholic beverage made from malted grain served in a container that can hold a quarter gallon of liquid. Example: Johnny Depp poured himself a pint after a heated argument with his abusive ex-wife.
Definition Of Quart
A quart is a unit of measure for liquids equivalent to one-quarter a gallon or 32 ounces. This measure also applies for dry ingredients, which equals an eighth of a peck or two pints.
The specific quantity of a quart may differ depending on the nation or region. The word “quart” originates from the Latin “Quartus,” meaning one-quarter” as in one-quarter of a gallon.
Secondary Definitions of Quart
According to leading English dictionaries, this word has diverse meanings. In card games, a quart refers to four successive cards of the same suit. In a sentence: I knew I had the game when I pulled a quart against my opponents.
A quart is also a container that can hold a quart of contents. (Example: Please go to the market with the plastic quart containers for the strawberries and rice.)
How To Use Pint And Quart In Sentences
If you kept up with the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial, you must have heard the involved parties using these words. However, were their applications correct? Find out below;
How And When To Use Pint
You can use the word “pint” when discussing beverages, like beer or milk. Additionally, you can use it for dry foods like groceries, fruits, and ice cream. The abbreviation or symbol for “pint” is “pt” or “p.”
Refer to this word when describing a glass of beverage, the capacity of liquids (one-eighth a gallon or half a quart), or when you want to mean an alcoholic beverage. The plural for “pint” is “pints.” This word does not have other forms.
How And When To Use Quart
Use this word as a unit of capacity for liquids. You can use its symbol, “qt.” Its applications and contexts of use do not differ from those for “pint.” However, you should note the quantitative differences between the two.
Like “pint,” “quart” is a noun with no other word forms apart from its plural, which is “quarts.” So is there a difference between pint vs. quart? The main difference between a pint and a quart lies in their quantity. A pint is equivalent to:
- Half a quart (in the US and UK)
- An eighth of a gallon (in the US and UK)
- 16 fluid ounces (in the UK and US)
- 473 milliliters or 0.473 liters of liquid in the US
- 551 milliliters or 0.551 liters of dry goods in the US
- 568 milliliters or 0.568 liters in the UK and other Commonwealth countries
- 96 teaspoons
- 32 tablespoons
- 0.832674 British Imperial pints
- 0.416337 British Imperial quarts
On the other hand, a quart is equivalent to:
- Two pints (in the UK and US)
- One-quarter a gallon (in the UK and US)
- 32 fluid ounces (in the UK and US)
- 1,101 milliliters (ml) or 0.101 liters in dry goods in the UK
- 954 milliliters or 0.954 of liquids in the United Kingdom
- 1,136 milliliters or 1.136 liters in the UK and Commonwealth nations
- 192 teaspoons
- 64 tablespoons
- 1.66535 Imperial pints
- 0.832674 Imperial quarts
Another difference between a quart and a pint is that the former also applies in card games, while the latter only applies in measurements.
Liquid Pint vs Dry Pint & Liquid Quart vs Dry Quart
There is no difference in these measurements at all… as long as you’re measuring something dry or liquid ingredients, it’s a measurement of volume, so there’s no need to be concerned about these differences whether you’re using wet ingredients or dry ones.
Examples Of Pint And Quart In Sentences
Applying these words in sentences should be easy since they are used in similar contexts and have relatively analogous meanings. However, if you are still experiencing difficulties, we have the following examples as a guide for you.
Examples sentences of pint
- A pint of beer should be sufficient for each attendee at the celebration
- The recipe calls for a pint of ice cream and two pints of strawberries.
- Jane used only a pint of paint for his final year project.
- My family cannot survive on a pint of milk for breakfast; there are too many members to feed.
- How come this bar charges twice as much for a pint of beer compared to its counterparts?
- Are there different types of pints for liquids and dry ingredients?
Examples sentences of quart
- Our Chemistry teacher advised us to add a quart of the solution at a time for the best results.
- We sold the cow because it only gave a quart of milk at each milking and cost too much to feed.
- John and Mike knocked off a quart of milk and half a dozen donuts each in one sitting.
- Our naivety fooled us into trying to squeeze a pint out of a quart pot.
- A pint of blueberries won’t be enough; instead, get a quart.
- Jenny ate a quart of ice cream because she broke up with her boyfriend.
Real-Life Examples Of Quart Vs. Pint
The technical terms in previous sections may make it hard to visualize a pint and quart. If this is the case for you, below are some real-world examples you can consider;
- A family-sized ice cream tub is usually 1.5 quarts (Grab the spoons!)
- Two mason jars can hold a pint of products
- A quart is four standard measuring cups
- A pint is two standard measuring cups
- Most bars serve their beer in one-pint mugs
Conclusion
The best way to understand the differences between a pint and a quart is by mastering your units of measurements. All this depends on where you come from. For instance, the US uses the conventional system for weights and measures, while the UK and Commonwealth nations use the imperial system, so depending on where your recipe books are from, there may be a slight difference.
That notwithstanding, a quart equals two pints in each system. With this information, you should be able to use these words correctly the next time you measure the volume of liquids or dry goods.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.