Cool MateBelieve vs Consider vs Regard vs They regard as a harmless vice
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Believe
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Consider
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Regard
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
They regard as a harmless vice
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
| Believe | Consider | Regard | They regard as a harmless vice | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bɪˈliːv/","/bɪˈliːvz/","/bɪˈliːvd/","/bɪˈliːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bɪˈliːv/","/bɪˈliːvz/","/bɪˈliːvd/","/bɪˈliːvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //kənˈsɪdə//🇺🇸 //kənˈsɪdər// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈɡɑːd/","/rɪˈɡɑːdz/","/rɪˈɡɑːdɪd/","/rɪˈɡɑːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈɡɑːrd/","/rɪˈɡɑːrdz/","/rɪˈɡɑːrdɪd/","/rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪ rɪˈɡɑːd æz ə ˈhɑːmləs vaɪs//🇺🇸 //ðeɪ rɪˈɡɑrd æz ə ˈhɑrmləs vaɪs// |
| Meaning | to think that something is true | To think about something carefully. | To think about someone or something in a certain way. | They think it is a small, not serious problem. |
| Example | I believe in fairytales. | I will consider your suggestion. | Many people regard freedom as a fundamental human right. | Many people regard chocolate consumption as a harmless vice. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | deeply, fervently, firmly, cannot, be hard to, give somebody to, can hardly believe something, can scarcely believe something, not believe a word of something, deeply, fervently, firmly, cannot, be hard to, give somebody to, can hardly believe something, can scarcely believe something, not believe a word of something, deeply, fervently, firmly, cannot, be hard to, give somebody to, can hardly believe something, can scarcely believe something, not believe a word of something | consider carefully, consider an option, consider a possibility | highly, well, generally, appear to, seem to, tend to, as, with, steadily, intently, curiously, continue to, with | regard as important, regard as beneficial, regard with suspicion, regard with favor, regard as a problem |
| Antonyms | deny, doubt | ignore, dismiss, overlook | disregard, neglect, disdain | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'believe in' (which means to trust in the existence or value of something)., Using 'believe' without an object (e.g., 'I believe.' should specify what)., Mixing 'believe' with 'think' when conveying certainty (they have slight differences). | Confuse with 'considering' which is a different form., Omit the object, e.g., saying 'Consider' without specifying what., Mix with 'contemplate', which has a deeper meaning. | Confused with 'regards' when closing emails., Using 'regard' without an object (it's typically used with one)., Confusing it with 'regard as' and misplacing the subject. | Using 'regard' without the 'as' structure., Confusing 'vice' with 'virtue'., Mixing up the subject and object positions. |
| Usage notes | Most often used in statements of faith or trust. Avoid in formal writing when expressing doubt; instead, use 'consider' or 'regard'. | Use 'consider' when you are thinking about options or possibilities. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations. | Used to express opinion or feeling towards someone or something. Often used in both written and spoken English. May not be suitable in very casual conversations. | Use this phrase to express a belief about the nature of something. It’s suitable for neutral discussions, but avoid in academic writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Believe vs Consider vs Regard vs They regard as a harmless vice
What's the difference between Believe, Consider, Regard, and They regard as a harmless vice?
Believe: to think that something is true Consider: To think about something carefully. Regard: To think about someone or something in a certain way. They regard as a harmless vice: They think it is a small, not serious problem.
Which is more advanced: Believe, Consider, Regard, and They regard as a harmless vice?
Regard is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Believe: I believe in fairytales. Consider: I will consider your suggestion. Regard: Many people regard freedom as a fundamental human right. They regard as a harmless vice: Many people regard chocolate consumption as a harmless vice.
Can I use Believe, Consider, Regard, and They regard as a harmless vice interchangeably?
Not always. Believe, Consider, Regard, and They regard as a harmless vice 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.