Cool MateConvince vs Persuade
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Convince
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Persuade
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Most common: Convince
| Convince | Persuade | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈvɪns/","/kənˈvɪnsɪz/","/kənˈvɪnst/","/kənˈvɪnsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈvɪns/","/kənˈvɪnsɪz/","/kənˈvɪnst/","/kənˈvɪnsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pəˈsweɪd//🇺🇸 //pərˈsweɪd// |
| Meaning | To make someone believe something is true or to persuade them to do something. | To convince someone to do or believe something. |
| Example | Are the prime minister's assurances enough to convince the public? | She was able to persuade him to join the team. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | convince someone of something, convince someone to do something, convince through logic, hard to convince, easily convinced | persuade someone, persuade to do something, easily persuade, persuade against, attempt to persuade |
| Antonyms | dissuade, discourage | dissuade, discourage |
| Common mistakes | Using 'convince' without an object, e.g., 'I convinced.', Mixing up 'persuade' and 'convince', as they have different structures., Confusing 'convince' with 'persuade' in the context of non-people. | Confused with 'convince'; 'persuade' implies a suggestion while 'convince' implies certainty., Using 'persuade' without an object; it always needs someone to persuade., Mixing the prepositions; the correct structure is 'persuade someone to do something'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'convince' when you're trying to persuade someone with logical reasons or emotions. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but might be too strong in casual conversations. Avoid using it when simply explaining or suggesting. | Use in both formal and informal contexts when trying to influence someone's thinking or actions. Avoid when discussing forced actions. |
Frequently asked questions: Convince vs Persuade
What's the difference between Convince and Persuade?
Convince: To make someone believe something is true or to persuade them to do something. Persuade: To convince someone to do or believe something.
Which is more common: Convince and Persuade?
Convince is the most common in everyday English.
Are Convince and Persuade the same CEFR level?
Convince: B1, Persuade: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Convince and Persuade interchangeably?
Not always. Convince and Persuade 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.