Cool MateHow we do things vs Procedure
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
How we do things
Top 3,000 (common)
Procedure
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Procedure
| How we do things | Procedure | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //haʊ wiː duː θɪŋz//🇺🇸 //haʊ wi du θɪŋz// | 🇬🇧 /["/prəˈsiːdʒə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/prəˈsiːdʒər/"]/ |
| Meaning | The way we perform tasks or actions. | A series of steps to follow to do something. |
| Example | Our team has a unique way of doing things that improves efficiency. | The procedure for applying for a visa can be quite complicated. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | change how we do things, discuss how we do things, improve how we do things, understand how we do things, review how we do things | complex, complicated, simple, adopt, apply, carry out, under a/the procedure, procedure for, complex, complicated, simple, adopt, apply, carry out, under a/the procedure, procedure for, complex, complicated, simple, adopt, apply, carry out, under a/the procedure, procedure for |
| Antonyms | - | chaos, disorder |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'how to do things', Using it in overly casual settings, Misplacing the phrase in a sentence | Confused with 'process' - 'procedure' is more structured., 'Procedure' used as a verb - it is only a noun. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when discussing methods or approaches. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, particularly in workplace settings. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. More common in technical or academic settings, and less appropriate in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: How we do things vs Procedure
What's the difference between How we do things and Procedure?
How we do things: The way we perform tasks or actions. Procedure: A series of steps to follow to do something.
Which is more common: How we do things and Procedure?
Procedure is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
How we do things: Our team has a unique way of doing things that improves efficiency. Procedure: The procedure for applying for a visa can be quite complicated.
Can I use How we do things and Procedure interchangeably?
Not always. How we do things and Procedure 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.