Act vs Statute

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Act

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Statute

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most formal: Statute Most common: Act

	Act	Statute
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ækt/","/ækts/","/ˈæktɪd/","/ˈæktɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ækt/","/ækts/","/ˈæktɪd/","/ˈæktɪŋ/"]/ Hear Act	🇬🇧 //ˈstætjuːt// 🇺🇸 //ˈstætʃuːt// Hear Statute
Meaning	To do something or take action.	A law made by a government.
Example	She decided to act in the school play this year.	The new statute aims to reduce pollution in urban areas.
Register	Neutral	Formal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	at once, immediately, promptly, against, for somebody, on behalf of somebody, act as if, act in somebody’s best interests, act in good faith, at once, immediately, promptly, against, for somebody, on behalf of somebody, act as if, act in somebody’s best interests, act in good faith, brilliantly, well, badly, brilliantly, well, badly	pass a statute, amend a statute, statute law, enact a statute, statute of limitations
Antonyms	ignore, neglect, refrain	-
Common mistakes	'Act' is sometimes confused with 'take action', which has a slightly different connotation., Learners often omit the preposition when using 'act on' phrases., 'Act' may be incorrectly used as a noun instead of a verb.	Confused with 'statue' - a figure made of stone or metal., Using 'statute' when referring to common laws or regulations instead of written laws., Mispronouncing the word, confusing it with 'statue'.
Usage notes	Use 'act' in both formal and informal contexts when referring to behavior. Avoid using it in overly casual settings when describing serious actions.	Used primarily in legal contexts. Less common in everyday conversation. Appropriate in academic writing and official documentation.

Frequently asked questions: Act vs Statute

What's the difference between Act and Statute?

Act: To do something or take action. Statute: A law made by a government.

Which is more formal: Act and Statute?

Statute is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Act and Statute?

Act is the most common in everyday English.

Can I use Act and Statute interchangeably?

Not always. Act and Statute 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.