Cool MateAccount vs Record
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Account
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Record
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Account | Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈkaʊnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈkaʊnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrekɔːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrekərd/"]/ |
| Meaning | A record of money or information. | To write down or save information. |
| Example | I need to check my bank account to see how much money I have. | I bought a new record of my favorite artist yesterday. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | bank, building-society, checking, have, hold, close, number, holder, balance, account at, account with, expense, charge, credit, have, create, open, on account, account at, account with, brief, short, blow-by-blow, give (somebody), offer, provide (somebody with), in an/the account, by all accounts, by somebody’s own account, brief, short, blow-by-blow, give (somebody), offer, provide (somebody with), in an/the account, by all accounts, by somebody’s own account, profit and loss account, accounts payable, accounts receivable, do, keep, audit, be in order, account book, account balance, expense, charge, credit, have, create, open, on account, account at, account with | formal, official, public, keep, maintain, compile, contain something, include something, indicate something, in the record, in the records, off the record, access to the records, have a record of something, have no record of something, club, course, national, hold, establish, set, stand, fall, book, attempt, breaker, record for, record with, in record time, past, track, distinguished, have, possess, establish, demonstrate something, show something, compare with something, record among, record for, record in, long-playing, LP, gramophone, write, cut, make, company, industry, label, long-playing, LP, gramophone, write, cut, make, company, industry, label |
| Antonyms | debt, deficit | erase, delete |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'account for' which means to explain., Using 'account' as a verb without 'for'., Saying 'the account of' instead of 'the account for'. | Confused with 'recorded' when discussing past actions., Using 'record' incorrectly as a noun instead of a verb., Mixing up 'record' with 'recall' which has a different meaning. |
| Usage notes | Use 'account' in business or financial contexts. It’s appropriate when talking about finances, banking, or storytelling. Avoid using in casual conversations unless relevant. | Use 'record' when talking about saving audio, video, or information. It's suitable in most contexts, but in casual speech, phrases like 'make a recording' may sound more natural. |
Frequently asked questions: Account vs Record
What's the difference between Account and Record?
Account: A record of money or information. Record: To write down or save information.
Are Account and Record the same CEFR level?
Account: B1, Record: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Account and Record interchangeably?
Not always. Account and Record are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.