Cool MateConfer vs Discuss
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Confer
Discuss
| Confer | Discuss | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈfɜː(r)/","/kənˈfɜːz/","/kənˈfɜːd/","/kənˈfɜːrɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈfɜːr/","/kənˈfɜːrz/","/kənˈfɜːrd/","/kənˈfɜːrɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈskʌs/","/dɪˈskʌsɪz/","/dɪˈskʌst/","/dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈskʌs/","/dɪˈskʌsɪz/","/dɪˈskʌst/","/dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To discuss something with others to make a decision. | To talk about something with others. |
| Example | He wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision. | Let's discuss the details of the project in the meeting. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | confer a degree, confer with colleagues, confer authority, confer benefits, confer about a decision | exhaustively, fully, in detail, convene (something) to, meet to, want to, with, as discussed, a forum to discuss something, have something to discuss, exhaustively, fully, in detail, convene (something) to, meet to, want to, with, as discussed, a forum to discuss something, have something to discuss |
| Antonyms | withdraw, withhold | ignore, neglect, overlook |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'conference'; they are related but have different meanings., Using 'confer' without an object, which sounds incomplete., Incorrectly using 'confer' in informal situations. | Using 'discuss' without an object, e.g., saying 'We will discuss' instead of 'We will discuss the topic'., Confusing with 'disclosure' which is related to revealing information, not talking about it., Misusing in passive voice, e.g., 'The topic was discussed by us' is awkward; prefer active voice. |
| Usage notes | Used in academic or professional contexts. Considered more formal than 'talk' or 'discuss', and may not be appropriate in casual conversations. | Used in both spoken and written contexts. Appropriate for academic, business, and casual conversations. Avoid in very casual contexts where simpler terms like 'talk about' might be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Confer vs Discuss
What's the difference between Confer and Discuss?
Confer: To discuss something with others to make a decision. Discuss: To talk about something with others.
Which is more formal: Confer and Discuss?
Confer is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Confer and Discuss?
Discuss is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Confer and Discuss?
Confer is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Confer and Discuss the same CEFR level?
Confer: C1, Discuss: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Confer and Discuss?
Confer: verb, Discuss: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Confer: He wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision. Discuss: Let's discuss the details of the project in the meeting.
Can I use Confer and Discuss interchangeably?
Not always. Confer and Discuss 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.