Cool MateAdd vs Append vs Attach
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Add
High-frequency chunkA1verb
Append
Beyond 10,000 (less common)B1
Attach
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
| Add | Append | Attach | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/æd/","/ædz/","/ˈædɪd/","/ˈædɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/æd/","/ædz/","/ˈædɪd/","/ˈædɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //əˈpɛnd//🇺🇸 //əˈpɛnd// | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈtætʃ/","/əˈtætʃɪz/","/əˈtætʃt/","/əˈtætʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtætʃ/","/əˈtætʃɪz/","/əˈtætʃt/","/əˈtætʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to put together or to include more | to add something to the end of something else | to connect or fasten something to another thing |
| Example | Please add your name to the list. | You can append new data to the existing database. | Please attach the document to your email before sending it. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | hastily, hurriedly, quickly, hasten to | append a file, append data, append text | firmly, securely, loosely, to |
| Antonyms | subtract, remove, deduct | remove, delete, detach | detach, remove |
| Common mistakes | 'Add to' used incorrectly as if it were 'add with', Confusing 'add' with 'add up' which has different meanings, 'Adding' used without an object | Confusing with 'prepend' which means to add at the beginning., Incorrectly using with intransitive subjects, e.g. 'the data appends'. Should say 'the data is appended'. | Confused with 'detach' – forgetting to use the right prefix., Using 'attaching' incorrectly in passive constructions., Not following with an object, e.g., 'attach to' instead of 'attach the document to'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'add' in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid it in very technical or academic writing where more specific terms might be required. | Used mostly in technical or formal contexts, such as programming or writing. Not common in casual conversation. | Use 'attach' for both physical and abstract connections, like emails or documents. Less common in very formal writing. Avoid with informal language unless using slang. |
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Frequently asked questions: Add vs Append vs Attach
What's the difference between Add, Append, and Attach?
Add: to put together or to include more Append: to add something to the end of something else Attach: to connect or fasten something to another thing
Are Add, Append, and Attach the same CEFR level?
Add: A1, Append: B1, Attach: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Add: Please add your name to the list. Append: You can append new data to the existing database. Attach: Please attach the document to your email before sending it.
Can I use Add, Append, and Attach interchangeably?
Not always. Add, Append, and Attach 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.