Authority vs Master carries heavy burden

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

Authority

Top 2,000 (common)B1noun

Master carries heavy burden

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Authority
 AuthorityMaster carries heavy burden
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //əˈθɔːrɪti//🇺🇸 //əˈθɔːrɪti//🇬🇧 //ˈmɑːstə/ ˈkæriz ˈhɛvi ˈbɜːdən//🇺🇸 //ˈmæstər ˈkɛriz ˈhɛvi ˈbɜrdən//
MeaningThe power or right to give orders and make decisions.A person who is very skilled at something but has a lot of responsibility.
ExampleThe teacher has authority over the students.Being a master carries a heavy burden of expectations from others.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsexercise authority, recognize authority, challenge authorityheavy responsibilities, master artisan, master of ceremonies, burden of leadership, mastery of skills
Antonymspowerlessness, subordination-
Common mistakesConfused with 'author' - authority refers to power, not authorship., Misused in singular form; should often use 'authorities' for multiple groups or people.Confusing 'master' with 'mastery' as the same word., Not recognizing 'burden' implies a challenge or weight, not just physical., Assuming all masters are without struggles.
Usage notesUsed in both formal and informal contexts. Often refers to organizations or individuals in positions of power.Often used in contexts discussing leadership or expertise, but can imply stress or difficulty due to responsibilities.

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Authority
Master carries heavy burden

Frequently asked questions: Authority vs Master carries heavy burden

What's the difference between Authority and Master carries heavy burden?

Authority: The power or right to give orders and make decisions. Master carries heavy burden: A person who is very skilled at something but has a lot of responsibility.

Which is more common: Authority and Master carries heavy burden?

Authority is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Authority: The teacher has authority over the students. Master carries heavy burden: Being a master carries a heavy burden of expectations from others.

Can I use Authority and Master carries heavy burden interchangeably?

Not always. Authority and Master carries heavy burden 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.

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