Cool MateMonitor vs Patrol
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Monitor
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Patrol
Top 3,000 (common)C1noun
Most common: Monitor
| Monitor | Patrol | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmɒnɪtə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmɑːnɪtər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈtrəʊl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pəˈtrəʊl/"]/ |
| Meaning | A screen used to see pictures or text from a computer. | To go around a place to keep it safe or check for problems. |
| Example | The teacher will monitor the students' progress throughout the semester. | The police went on patrol around the neighborhood every night. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | colour/color, digital, CCTV, on a/the monitor, baby, foetal/fetal, heart, detect something, display something, show something, hooked up to a monitor, UN, ceasefire, election, UN, ceasefire, election | routine, special, armed, carry out, conduct, fly, aircraft, boat, car, on patrol, routine, special, armed, carry out, conduct, fly, aircraft, boat, car, on patrol |
| Antonyms | ignore, neglect | ignore, neglect |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'minotor', a common misspelling., Using 'monitor' as a verb without an object, e.g., 'I will monitor' instead of 'I will monitor the situation.' | Confused with 'patrolling' as a noun instead of a verb., Incorrectly using 'patrol' as a subject., Mixing up 'patrol' with 'patrols' when describing multiple teams. |
| Usage notes | Use 'monitor' when referring to computer screens or when talking about observing something continuously. More formal contexts may use it to describe supervision or tracking. | Used when discussing security or monitoring. Typically appropriate in formal contexts like law enforcement, but can be used informally when talking about military or neighborhood watch activities. |
Frequently asked questions: Monitor vs Patrol
What's the difference between Monitor and Patrol?
Monitor: A screen used to see pictures or text from a computer. Patrol: To go around a place to keep it safe or check for problems.
Which is more common: Monitor and Patrol?
Monitor is the most common in everyday English.
Are Monitor and Patrol the same CEFR level?
Monitor: B2, Patrol: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Monitor and Patrol interchangeably?
Not always. Monitor and Patrol 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.