Case vs Report

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

Case

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun

Report

Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
 CaseReport
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/keɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/keɪs/"]/🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈpɔːt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈpɔːrt/"]/
MeaningA situation or example.A written or spoken account of something.
ExamplePlease put the documents in the case for safekeeping.The teacher asked us to write a report on our summer vacation.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelA2A1
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsclassic, textbook, typical, illustrate, show, cite, arise, occur, study, example, in somebody’s/​this case, case of, case by case, a case in point, be, remain, overstate, classic, textbook, typical, illustrate, show, cite, arise, occur, study, example, in somebody’s/​this case, case of, case by case, a case in point, notorious, tragic, assault, handle, investigate, work on, file, report, officer, on the case, case of, court, criminal, civil, bring, prosecute, pursue, come before somebody, come to court, go to court, in a/​the case, case against, case of, a case to answer, no case to answer, the circumstances of a case, compelling, convincing, good, have, prepare, outline, exist, case against, case for, the case for the defence/​defense, the case for the prosecution, the merits of a case, carrying, packing, glass, in a/​the case, inside a/​the case, out of a/​the case, attaché, overnight, acute, chronic, advanced, diagnose, report, history, notes, records, case ofgroundbreaking, important, influential, deliver, give somebody, make, be based on something, address something, concern something, author, writer, writing, according to a/​the report, amid reports, in a/​the report, groundbreaking, important, influential, deliver, give somebody, make, be based on something, address something, concern something, author, writer, writing, according to a/​the report, amid reports, in a/​the report, groundbreaking, important, influential, deliver, give somebody, make, be based on something, address something, concern something, author, writer, writing, according to a/​the report, amid reports, in a/​the report, groundbreaking, important, influential, deliver, give somebody, make, be based on something, address something, concern something, author, writer, writing, according to a/​the report, amid reports, in a/​the report, good, bad, school, get
Antonymssameness, uniformityignore, neglect
Common mistakesConfused with 'case' as a container instead of a situation., Using 'case' without properly specifying what type of case (e.g., legal case, medical case).Confused with 'reporter' which refers to a person., Misuse of 'reports' as a verb instead of a noun., Using 'report' for informal updates, which is not appropriate.
Usage notesUse 'case' to refer to a particular situation, especially in legal or medical contexts. It is less formal than 'instance' and more common in everyday conversation.Use 'report' in formal contexts like school or work. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing news or events.

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Case

Frequently asked questions: Case vs Report

What's the difference between Case and Report?

Case: A situation or example. Report: A written or spoken account of something.

Which is more advanced: Case and Report?

Case is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Case and Report the same CEFR level?

Case: A2, Report: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Case and Report?

Case: noun, Report: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Case: Please put the documents in the case for safekeeping. Report: The teacher asked us to write a report on our summer vacation.

Can I use Case and Report interchangeably?

Not always. Case and Report 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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