Tour and travel might appear similar, but there is a difference between the two terms. A tour is usually undertaken for enjoyment and relaxation, while travel is an uncountable noun and cannot be used with an indefinite article.
Key Takeaways
- Tour is typically taken for enjoyment and relaxation, whereas travel can have various purposes.
- Travel is an uncountable noun and cannot be used with an indefinite article.
- A tour usually takes a longer time to complete, while travel can be short too.
The word “travel” is often used without a definite article, as in the sentence “Ms. Jasmine’s hobbies are travel, philately and music.” However, “travels” can be used to indicate several trips taken during a tour or to describe a long trip, although this usage is rare.
On the other hand, a tour often implies a specific purpose, such as educational tours, sports tours, or music tours. In each of these examples, a purpose is meant. For instance, during a music tour, musicians travel from one place to another in a country to perform and entertain audiences. Throughout the tour, music is the primary purpose, although the musicians may also take a few travels to nearby places for leisure.
The word “traveling” is sometimes used as a substitute for “travel,” as in the sentence “Robert likes traveling.” The meaning does not change in this case, as the gerund “ing” in “traveling” conveys the same meaning as “travel.” A tour typically takes a long time to complete, whereas travel can be short. Multiple travels can occur within a tour.
