Bear in mind vs Recognize

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

Bear in mind

Top 2,000 (common)

Recognize

Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Recognize
 Bear in mindRecognize
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //bɛə(r) ɪn maɪnd//🇺🇸 //bɛr ɪn maɪnd//🇬🇧 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/
MeaningRemember or consider something.to see or know someone or something again
ExamplePlease bear in mind that the deadline is next week.I can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A2
Part of speechverb
Collocationsbear in mind that, bear in mind when, bear in mind the fact, please bear in mind, don't forget to bear in mindimmediately, instantly, correctly, learn to, be easy to, as, by, from, clearly, fully, belatedly, must, need to, begin to, as, be commonly recognized, be generally recognized, be universally recognized, clearly, federally, formally, agree to, refuse to, as, be legally recognized, a refusal to recognize something
Antonyms-ignore, overlook, miss
Common mistakesOmitting 'in mind' and saying just 'bear'., Using it in questions like 'Can you bear in mind?' instead of statements., Confusing with 'keep in mind' which has similar meaning but is more casual.Confusing 'recognize' with 'realize', Using 'recognize' without an object (e.g., 'I recognize' instead of 'I recognize her'), Mixing up tenses, like saying 'recognized' instead of 'recognize' in present situations
Usage notesUse this expression to remind someone to think of an important point. It's neutral, so it's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.Use 'recognize' when acknowledging something you already know. It's appropriate for everyday conversations but avoid in situations requiring formal language, like legal documents.

See it in real clips

Bear in mind
Recognize

Frequently asked questions: Bear in mind vs Recognize

What's the difference between Bear in mind and Recognize?

Bear in mind: Remember or consider something. Recognize: to see or know someone or something again

Which is more common: Bear in mind and Recognize?

Recognize is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Bear in mind: Please bear in mind that the deadline is next week. Recognize: I can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room.

Can I use Bear in mind and Recognize interchangeably?

Not always. Bear in mind and Recognize 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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