Consider vs Count it

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

Consider

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Count it

Informal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most formal: Consider Most common: Consider

	Consider	Count it
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //kənˈsɪdə// 🇺🇸 //kənˈsɪdər//	🇬🇧 //kaʊnt ɪt// 🇺🇸 //kaʊnt ɪt//
Meaning	To think about something carefully.	To accept or acknowledge something, often a condition.
Example	I will consider your suggestion.	If you can't come to the party, count it as missed fun.
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	consider carefully, consider an option, consider a possibility	count it as a loss, count it as a lesson, count it towards your goals
Antonyms	ignore, dismiss, overlook	-
Common mistakes	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.	Used in formal situations; 'Count it' is too casual., Confusing with 'count it as'- they have different uses., Assuming it's always positive; it can indicate acceptance of bad news.
Usage notes	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.	Common in spoken English; often used when clarifying feelings or decisions. Avoid in formal writing.

See it in real clips

From here on in, you can consider my ass retired.

Breaking Bad › S1 E5

Consider this your first and last warning.

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

You consider yourself lucky, I'm only busting you to private.

From here on in, you can consider my ass retired.

Breaking Bad › S1 E5

Consider this your first and last warning.

Consider

Count it.

Count it

Frequently asked questions: Consider vs Count it

What's the difference between Consider and Count it?

Consider: To think about something carefully. Count it: To accept or acknowledge something, often a condition.

Which is more formal: Consider and Count it?

Consider is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Consider and Count it?

Consider is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Consider: I will consider your suggestion. Count it: If you can't come to the party, count it as missed fun.

Can I use Consider and Count it interchangeably?

Not always. Consider and Count it 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.