Attach vs Fasten vs Join vs Link vs Secure

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

Attach

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

Fasten

Top 3,000 (common) B1 verb

Join

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 verb

Link

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Secure

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 verb

	Attach	Fasten	Join	Link	Secure
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əˈtætʃ/","/əˈtætʃɪz/","/əˈtætʃt/","/əˈtætʃɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈtætʃ/","/əˈtætʃɪz/","/əˈtætʃt/","/əˈtætʃɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɑːsn/","/ˈfɑːsnz/","/ˈfɑːsnd/","/ˈfɑːsnɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈfæsn/","/ˈfæsnz/","/ˈfæsnd/","/ˈfæsnɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/dʒɔɪn/","/dʒɔɪnz/","/dʒɔɪnd/","/ˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/dʒɔɪn/","/dʒɔɪnz/","/dʒɔɪnd/","/ˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/lɪŋk/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/lɪŋk/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/sɪˈkjʊə(r)/","/sɪˈkjʊəz/","/sɪˈkjʊəd/","/sɪˈkjʊərɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/sɪˈkjʊr/","/sɪˈkjʊrz/","/sɪˈkjʊrd/","/sɪˈkjʊrɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	to connect or fasten something to another thing	To make something secure or tight.	to come together with others	A connection between things.	To make safe or protect something.
Example	Please attach the document to your email before sending it.	Please fasten your seatbelt before the flight.	I decided to join a yoga class to improve my flexibility.	Please click on the link to visit the website.	We need to secure the doors before we leave for the night.
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 3,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B1	B1	A1	A2	B2
Part of speech	verb	verb	verb	noun	verb
Collocations	firmly, securely, loosely, to	firmly, properly, securely, to, firmly, properly, securely, to, firmly, properly, securely, to, firmly, properly, securely, to	formally, officially, voluntarily, want to, wish to, flock to, an invitation to join something, together, eagerly, gladly, wish to, invite somebody to, be allowed to, for, in, with, come and join somebody, an invitation to join somebody/​something	close, tight, inextricable, have, build, create, connect something, exist, road, link across, link between, link in, close, tight, inextricable, have, build, create, connect something, exist, road, link across, link between, link in, audio, video, radio, have, establish, lose, via a/​the link, link to, link via, embedded, hypertext, Internet, have, add, build, lead to something, point to something, work, link to	easily, safely, eventually, be able to, manage to, fail to, an attempt to secure something, an effort to secure something, be aimed at securing something, firmly, properly, tightly, to, with
Antonyms	detach, remove	loosen, unfasten	leave, split, detach	disconnect, detach, divide	danger, unsecure, risk
Common mistakes	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'.	Confusing 'fasten' with 'loosen'., Using 'fasten' without an object, e.g., saying 'I need to fasten.' instead of 'I need to fasten my seatbelt.', Mixing up 'fasten' with other similar verbs like 'attach' or 'secure'.	'Join' is often confused with 'meet' — they have different meanings., Learners forget to use 'join' with an object, saying 'I join' instead of 'I join the club.', Mixing up 'join' with 'attend' — attending can imply being present without being an active participant.	Confused with 'link' as a noun and verb, forgetting to use the right form., Using 'link' when a stronger word like 'connect' is needed in formal writing., Overusing 'link' instead of 'connection' in context.	Confused with 'ensure' - 'ensure' means to make sure something happens., Using 'secured' as an adjective when it should be a verb., Misplacing the emphasis on the second syllable.
Usage notes	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.	Use 'fasten' when you want to describe securing something, like a seatbelt or a button. It's appropriate in most contexts.	Use 'join' when indicating participation in an activity or becoming part of a group. It's neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in overly formal writing.	Use 'link' in both formal and informal situations. In academic writing, it often refers to ideas or arguments connected logically. Avoid it in contexts requiring very precise language.	Used to indicate making something safe, but can also mean to obtain or achieve something. More common in formal contexts when referring to safety and in neutral situations for obtaining.

Frequently asked questions: Attach vs Fasten vs Join vs Link vs Secure

What's the difference between Attach, Fasten, Join, Link, and Secure?

Attach: to connect or fasten something to another thing Fasten: To make something secure or tight. Join: to come together with others Link: A connection between things. Secure: To make safe or protect something.

Which is more advanced: Attach, Fasten, Join, Link, and Secure?

Secure is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Attach, Fasten, Join, Link, and Secure the same CEFR level?

Attach: B1, Fasten: B1, Join: A1, Link: A2, Secure: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Attach, Fasten, Join, Link, and Secure?

Attach: verb, Fasten: verb, Join: verb, Link: noun, Secure: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Attach: Please attach the document to your email before sending it. Fasten: Please fasten your seatbelt before the flight. Join: I decided to join a yoga class to improve my flexibility. Link: Please click on the link to visit the website. Secure: We need to secure the doors before we leave for the night.

Can I use Attach, Fasten, Join, Link, and Secure interchangeably?

Not always. Attach, Fasten, Join, Link, and Secure 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.