Equity vs Shares
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
| Equity | Shares | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Fairness or equal treatment | Parts of a company's ownership that people can buy. |
| Register | formal | - |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Usage notes | Used in legal, financial, and social contexts to indicate fairness. May not be appropriate in casual conversations. | Use 'shares' in business contexts. It's suitable for formal and informal conversations about finance. Avoid in casual or non-financial discussions. |
Frequently asked questions: Equity vs Shares
What's the difference between "Equity" and "Shares"?
"Equity" means: Fairness or equal treatment "Shares" means: Parts of a company's ownership that people can buy.
When should I use "Equity" and "Shares"?
"Equity" is formal.