Agency vs Authority vs Capacity vs Control vs Influence

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

Agency

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

Authority

Top 2,000 (common) B1 noun

Capacity

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

Control

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Influence

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 noun

	Agency	Authority	Capacity	Control	Influence
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈeɪdʒənsi/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈeɪdʒənsi/"]/	🇬🇧 //əˈθɔːrɪti// 🇺🇸 //əˈθɔːrɪti//	🇬🇧 //kəˈpæs.ɪ.ti// 🇺🇸 //kəˈpæ.sɪ.ti//	🇬🇧 /["/kənˈtrəʊl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kənˈtrəʊl/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪnfluəns/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪnfluəns/"]/
Meaning	The ability to make choices and take action.	The power or right to give orders and make decisions.	How much something can hold or do.	To have power over something or someone.	To have an effect on someone or something.
Example	She works for an **advertising agency**.	The teacher has authority over the students.	The capacity of the stadium is 50,000 people.	She learned how to take control of the situation during the meeting.	Her influence on the committee was undeniable, as she often swayed their decisions.
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	B1	B2	A2	B1
Part of speech	noun	noun	noun	noun	noun
Collocations	official, federal, government, through an/​the agency, official, federal, government, through an/​the agency	exercise authority, recognize authority, challenge authority	full capacity, seating capacity, at capacity, capacity limits	absolute, complete, full, have, achieve, assert, freak, beyond your control, outside your control, in control (of), circumstances beyond somebody’s control, absolute, complete, full, have, achieve, assert, freak, beyond your control, outside your control, in control (of), circumstances beyond somebody’s control, strict, stringent, tight, implement, impose, introduce, control on, remote, volume, cruise, take, panel, device, stick, at the controls	big, considerable, enormous, have, gain, give somebody, extend, grow, wane, under the influence, influence from, influence in, a sphere of influence, bring your influence to bear on somebody/​something, under the influence, big, considerable, enormous, have, gain, give somebody, extend, grow, wane, under the influence, influence from, influence in, a sphere of influence, bring your influence to bear on somebody/​something, under the influence, big, considerable, great, be, have, be exposed to, be at work, affect something, shape something, influence on
Antonyms	powerlessness, ineffectiveness	powerlessness, subordination	inability, incapacity	lose, surrender, release	disregard, ignore, neglect
Common mistakes	Confused with 'agencies' as only organizations; forgets personal meaning., Using 'agency' in plural when referring to the concept of choice., Misunderstanding 'agency' as a physical place only.	Confused with 'author' - authority refers to power, not authorship., Misused in singular form; should often use 'authorities' for multiple groups or people.	Confused with 'capability', which refers to ability rather than volume., Using 'capacity' for individual abilities when 'capability' is more appropriate., Mispronouncing the word with emphasis on the wrong syllable.	'Control' is sometimes confused with 'manage' although 'manage' implies more overall organization., Learners may use 'control' with reflexive pronouns incorrectly, e.g., 'control myself' instead of just 'control'., Misusing 'control' in a physical sense, like 'control the ball' instead of 'handle the ball'.	Used as a noun instead of a verb without context., Confused with 'affect' versus 'effect'., Omitting the object when using it in sentences.
Usage notes	Used in contexts related to control and decision-making. Can refer to organizations (like an agency) or personal autonomy. Avoid when discussing only organizations.	Used in both formal and informal contexts. Often refers to organizations or individuals in positions of power.	Used in both formal and informal contexts. Common in discussions about limits or ability. Not typically used in casual conversation unless referring to space or limits.	Use 'control' when talking about managing situations or people's behavior. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations as it may imply dominance.	Used in both formal and informal contexts to describe how one person or thing affects another. Be cautious not to confuse it with 'affect' which is more emotion-based.

Frequently asked questions: Agency vs Authority vs Capacity vs Control vs Influence

What's the difference between Agency, Authority, Capacity, Control, and Influence?

Agency: The ability to make choices and take action. Authority: The power or right to give orders and make decisions. Capacity: How much something can hold or do. Control: To have power over something or someone. Influence: To have an effect on someone or something.

Are Agency, Authority, Capacity, Control, and Influence the same CEFR level?

Agency: B2, Authority: B1, Capacity: B2, Control: A2, Influence: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Agency, Authority, Capacity, Control, and Influence?

Agency: noun, Authority: noun, Capacity: noun, Control: noun, Influence: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Agency: She works for an **advertising agency**. Authority: The teacher has authority over the students. Capacity: The capacity of the stadium is 50,000 people. Control: She learned how to take control of the situation during the meeting. Influence: Her influence on the committee was undeniable, as she often swayed their decisions.

Can I use Agency, Authority, Capacity, Control, and Influence interchangeably?

Not always. Agency, Authority, Capacity, Control, and Influence 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.