Here's a breakdown:
* Waxing Crescent: This occurs right after the New Moon. The illuminated portion of the Moon is on the right side as seen from the Northern Hemisphere, and it gradually gets bigger each night.
* Waning Crescent: This happens right before the New Moon. The illuminated portion of the Moon is on the left side as seen from the Northern Hemisphere, and it gets smaller each night.
Think of it like a slice of pizza:
* Waxing Crescent: You start with a small slice and keep adding more until you have a half-moon.
* Waning Crescent: You start with a half-moon and keep taking away slices until you have a sliver left.
