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
| Case | Report | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/keɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/keɪs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈpɔːt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈpɔːrt/"]/ |
| Meaning | A situation or example. | A written or spoken account of something. |
| Example | Please put the documents in the case for safekeeping. | The teacher asked us to write a report on our summer vacation. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | classic, 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 of | 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, 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 |
| Antonyms | sameness, uniformity | ignore, neglect |
| Common mistakes | Confused 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 notes | Use '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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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.