Beads of sweat/perspiration trickled down...

[Tan Elaine]

Beads of sweat/perspiration trickled down his cheeks.

Can either boldfaced word be used?

Thanks.

[Gillnetter]

Beads of sweat/perspiration trickled down his cheeks.

Can either boldfaced word be used?

Thanks.

Yes. "Sweat" is a bit more informal than "perspire". In the 19th Century it was said that a man sweated and a woman perspired or glowed.

[5jj]

Thanks.

Yes. Sweat is a more 'rugged' word than perspiration..

[Tan Elaine]

Thanks,5jj.

Yes. Sweat is a more 'rugged' word than perspiration..

What does 'rugged' mean in the your sentence?

[emsr2d2]

Thanks,5jj.

Yes. Sweat is a more 'rugged' word than perspiration..

What does 'rugged' mean in the your sentence?

"Rugged" is an adjective which is normally applied to men. It means they look like a proper man - maybe a little unshaven and quite sturdy, perhaps that they might like long difficult walks up steep hills, or wrestling elephants in their spare time!

My father always used to tell me "Horses sweat, men perspire and ladies merely glow".

[Tan Elaine]

Thanks, Emsr2d2

Beads of sweat/perspiration trickled down HER cheeks.

Can I conclude from the replies thus far that I should use 'perspiration' when the one perspiring/sweating is a female?

[emsr2d2]

Thanks, Emsr2d2

Beads of sweat/perspiration trickled down HER cheeks.

Can I conclude from the replies thus far that I should use 'perspiration' when the one perspiring/sweating is a female?

Not necessarily, no. I don't see any problem with saying that women sweat. We do. It's a fact. I think it was just an old-fashioned nicety to try to suggest that sweating was somehow more masculine and unpleasant. I'm sure that in the old days, it was not seen as ladylike to sweat. I think we can safely say we have moved on these days!

[Tan Elaine]

Thanks, Emsr2d2

Beads of sweat/perspiration trickled down his/her cheeks.

Am I right to say that we can use either 'sweat' or 'perspiration' in the above sentence?

[bhaisahab]

Thanks, Emsr2d2

Beads of sweat/perspiration trickled down his/her cheeks.

Am I right to say that we can use either 'sweat' or 'perspiration' in the above sentence?

Yes, you can.