Cool MateAdd vs Attach
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Add
High-frequency chunkA1verb
Attach
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
| Add | Attach | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/æd/","/ædz/","/ˈædɪd/","/ˈædɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/æd/","/ædz/","/ˈædɪd/","/ˈædɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈtætʃ/","/əˈtætʃɪz/","/əˈtætʃt/","/əˈtætʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtætʃ/","/əˈtætʃɪz/","/əˈtætʃt/","/əˈtætʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to put together or to include more | to connect or fasten something to another thing |
| Example | Please add your name to the list. | Please attach the document to your email before sending it. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | hastily, hurriedly, quickly, hasten to | firmly, securely, loosely, to |
| Antonyms | subtract, remove, deduct | 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 | 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. | 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. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Add vs Attach
What's the difference between Add and Attach?
Add: to put together or to include more Attach: to connect or fasten something to another thing
Which is more advanced: Add and Attach?
Attach is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Add and Attach the same CEFR level?
Add: A1, Attach: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Add and Attach?
Add: verb, Attach: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Add: Please add your name to the list. Attach: Please attach the document to your email before sending it.
Can I use Add and Attach interchangeably?
Not always. Add 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.