Cool MateCorrelate vs Link
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Correlate
Top 3,000 (common)C1verb
Link
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Link
| Correlate | Link | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒrəleɪt/","/ˈkɒrəleɪts/","/ˈkɒrəleɪtɪd/","/ˈkɒrəleɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɔːrəleɪt/","/ˈkɔːrəleɪts/","/ˈkɔːrəleɪtɪd/","/ˈkɔːrəleɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/lɪŋk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/lɪŋk/"]/ |
| Meaning | To show a connection or relationship between two things. | A connection between things. |
| Example | The figures do not seem to correlate. | Please click on the link to visit the website. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Collocations | closely, highly, significantly, be found to, be shown to, to, with | close, tight, inextricable, have, build, create, connect something, exist, road, link across, link between, link in, close, tight, inextricable, have, build, create, connect something, exist, road, link across, link between, link in, audio, video, radio, have, establish, lose, via a/the link, link to, link via, embedded, hypertext, Internet, have, add, build, lead to something, point to something, work, link to |
| Antonyms | disconnect, dissimilar | disconnect, detach, divide |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'correlate' with 'cause' - correlation does not imply causation., Using 'correlate' as a noun instead of a verb., Incorrectly conjugating the verb (e.g., 'correlates' instead of 'correlate'). | Confused with 'link' as a noun and verb, forgetting to use the right form., Using 'link' when a stronger word like 'connect' is needed in formal writing., Overusing 'link' instead of 'connection' in context. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in academic or scientific contexts. Avoid in casual conversation unless discussing studies or statistics. | Use 'link' in both formal and informal situations. In academic writing, it often refers to ideas or arguments connected logically. Avoid it in contexts requiring very precise language. |
Frequently asked questions: Correlate vs Link
What's the difference between Correlate and Link?
Correlate: To show a connection or relationship between two things. Link: A connection between things.
Which is more common: Correlate and Link?
Link is the most common in everyday English.
Are Correlate and Link the same CEFR level?
Correlate: C1, Link: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Correlate and Link interchangeably?
Not always. Correlate and Link 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.