What is the difference between drywall and drylining?

Drywall and drylining are closely related terms, but they can describe slightly different things. Drywall usually refers to plasterboard itself or to an internal wall system built using plasterboard fixed to timber or metal studs. Drylining more broadly describes the method of finishing walls and ceilings with plasterboard instead of applying traditional wet plaster directly to the surface. Drylining may involve fixing boards to masonry with adhesive, attaching them to battens or installing them on a metal frame. In everyday use, the terms are often used interchangeably. In the UK, drylining is the more common term for the overall installation process, while drywall is used more frequently in North America. Both methods create smooth internal surfaces ready for jointing, skimming, painting or wallpapering.