Cool MateCreate vs Devise vs Formulate vs How they came up with
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Create
Devise
Formulate
How they came up with
| Create | Devise | Formulate | How they came up with | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kriˈeɪt/","/kriˈeɪts/","/kriˈeɪtɪd/","/kriˈeɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kriˈeɪt/","/kriˈeɪts/","/kriˈeɪtɪd/","/kriˈeɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈvaɪz//🇺🇸 //dɪˈvaɪz// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːmjuleɪt/","/ˈfɔːmjuleɪts/","/ˈfɔːmjuleɪtɪd/","/ˈfɔːmjuleɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrmjuleɪt/","/ˈfɔːrmjuleɪts/","/ˈfɔːrmjuleɪtɪd/","/ˈfɔːrmjuleɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //haʊ ðeɪ keɪm ʌp wɪð//🇺🇸 //haʊ ðeɪ keɪm ʌp wɪð// |
| Meaning | To make something new. | To invent or plan something in a careful way. | To create or develop a plan or idea. | How they created or thought of something |
| Example | You can create a beautiful painting with just a few colors. | She had to devise a new marketing strategy for the product. | to **formulate a policy/theory/plan/proposal** | I wonder how they came up with such an innovative design. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | create a plan, create a work of art, create an account, create new ideas, create a problem | devise a plan, devise a strategy, devise a solution, devise methods, devise a schedule | fully, carefully, properly, try to, help (to), fully, carefully, properly, try to, help (to) | come up with an idea, come up with a solution, how they came up with the idea, came up with suggestions, came up with a plan |
| Antonyms | destroy, dismantle, abolish | destroy, neglect, suppress | disorganize, destroy, neglect | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'produce', which may imply manufacturing rather than creative processes., Using 'create' in contexts where 'build' or 'develop' might be more specific. | Confusing with 'device', which refers to a physical object., Using 'devise' with non-action verbs incorrectly., Misplacing the tense or form when used with complex subjects. | Using 'formulate' without an object, e.g., 'I will formulate’ instead of 'I will formulate a plan.', Confusing 'formulate' with 'form' which is less specific., Using 'formulate' in overly casual contexts. | Inaccurately using 'come up with' without 'how they' for explanations., Using 'how they came up by' instead of 'how they came up with'., Confusing 'up' with other prepositions, losing the intended meaning. |
| Usage notes | Use 'create' when discussing making something that didn't exist before, like art or ideas. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. | Commonly used in academic and professional contexts; less formal in conversational language. Avoid using in casual or slang situations. | Use 'formulate' in academic or professional settings when discussing plans, theories, or strategies. It may sound too formal in casual conversations. | Use this phrase when discussing ideas or solutions. It's informal and should not be used in highly formal writing. Works well in conversations or casual reports. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Create vs Devise vs Formulate vs How they came up with
What's the difference between Create, Devise, Formulate, and How they came up with?
Create: To make something new. Devise: To invent or plan something in a careful way. Formulate: To create or develop a plan or idea. How they came up with: How they created or thought of something
Which is more common: Create, Devise, Formulate, and How they came up with?
Create is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Create: You can create a beautiful painting with just a few colors. Devise: She had to devise a new marketing strategy for the product. Formulate: to **formulate a policy/theory/plan/proposal** How they came up with: I wonder how they came up with such an innovative design.
Can I use Create, Devise, Formulate, and How they came up with interchangeably?
Not always. Create, Devise, Formulate, and How they came up with 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.