Cool MateAssurance vs You gave us your word
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Assurance
FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1noun
You gave us your word
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: AssuranceMost common: You gave us your word
| Assurance | You gave us your word | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈʃʊərəns//əˈʃɔːrəns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈʃʊrəns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊ ɡeɪv ʌs jɔː wɜːd//🇺🇸 //ju ɡeɪv ʌs jʊr wɝːd// |
| Meaning | A promise that something will happen or be true. | You made a promise or commitment. |
| Example | The company offered an assurance that their products were of the highest quality. | When you said you'd help, you gave us your word. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | absolute, categorical, clear, have, give somebody, make, assurance about, assurance by, assurance from, despite assurances, calm, quiet, great, have, show | give your word, break your word, keep your word, take someone's word, trust someone's word |
| Antonyms | doubt, uncertainty, insecurity | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'insure' or 'ensure', Used in informal situations where simpler words would be better, Mispronunciation, especially stressing the wrong syllable | Confused with 'You gave us your words' - 'word' in this context is singular., Using it when informal language is more appropriate., Misunderstanding the nuance of 'word' as a promise versus literal words. |
| Usage notes | Often used in business or legal contexts when making promises or guarantees. Not commonly used in casual conversations. | Typically used to emphasize trust or commitment. Suitable in both spoken and written language, often in serious or personal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Assurance vs You gave us your word
What's the difference between Assurance and You gave us your word?
Assurance: A promise that something will happen or be true. You gave us your word: You made a promise or commitment.
Which is more formal: Assurance and You gave us your word?
Assurance is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Assurance and You gave us your word?
You gave us your word is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Assurance: The company offered an assurance that their products were of the highest quality. You gave us your word: When you said you'd help, you gave us your word.
Can I use Assurance and You gave us your word interchangeably?
Not always. Assurance and You gave us your word 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.