Commission vs Grand jury

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

Commission

Top 2,000 (common)B2noun

Grand jury

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Grand juryMost common: Commission
 CommissionGrand jury
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/kəˈmɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəˈmɪʃn/"]/🇬🇧 //ɡrænd ˈdʒʊəri//🇺🇸 //ɡrænd ˈdʒʊri//
MeaningA fee paid to someone for doing a job or sale.A group that decides if there is enough evidence for a trial.
ExampleShe received a commission to create a new sculpture for the city park.The grand jury will meet this week to review the evidence.
RegisterNeutralFormal
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsinternational, national, independent, appoint, create, establish, commission for, commission on, a commission of inquiry, big, high, small, earn, get, receive, in commission, on commission, commission for, on a commission basis, big, high, small, earn, get, receive, in commission, on commission, commission for, on a commission basis, private, public, accept, get, receivegrand jury investigation, grand jury indictment, grand jury subpoena, hear from a grand jury, grand jury proceedings
Antonymsbonus, salary, wage-
Common mistakesConfusing 'commission' with 'commision' (incorrect spelling), Using 'commission' as a verb incorrectly, should be 'to commission something', Mixing up 'commission' with 'committee'Confused with 'petit jury', which is a trial jury., Misunderstood as a jury that determines guilt or innocence., Used in non-legal contexts.
Usage notesUsed in business contexts; often refers to payments based on sales. Not typically used in casual conversation.Used primarily in legal contexts, particularly in the United States. Not commonly used in informal conversation.

Frequently asked questions: Commission vs Grand jury

What's the difference between Commission and Grand jury?

Commission: A fee paid to someone for doing a job or sale. Grand jury: A group that decides if there is enough evidence for a trial.

Which is more formal: Commission and Grand jury?

Grand jury is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Commission and Grand jury?

Commission is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Commission: She received a commission to create a new sculpture for the city park. Grand jury: The grand jury will meet this week to review the evidence.

Can I use Commission and Grand jury interchangeably?

Not always. Commission and Grand jury 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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