Cool MateNeglect vs Pay no heed to that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Neglect
Top 3,000 (common)C1verb
Pay no heed to that
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Neglect
| Neglect | Pay no heed to that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɪˈɡlɛkt//🇺🇸 //nɪˈɡlɛkt// | 🇬🇧 //peɪ nəʊ hiːd tə ðæt//🇺🇸 //peɪ noʊ hid tə ðæt// |
| Meaning | To not pay attention to something or someone. | Don't listen to that. |
| Example | He tends to neglect his health due to his busy schedule. | You should pay no heed to that gossip. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | neglect responsibilities, neglect duties, neglect health, neglect a cause | pay no heed to criticism, pay no heed to warnings, pay no heed to rumors |
| Antonyms | care, attend, nurture | pay attention, notice, heed |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'neglected' as past tense only., Used without an object, neglect must involve something specific., Misuse as a synonym for 'ignore' without understanding the depth. | Using an incorrect verb form, like 'pays no heed to that'., Confusing 'heed' with 'heedless'., Forgetting the preposition 'to' after 'heed'. |
| Usage notes | Used in formal and informal contexts; avoid in casual conversation unless discussing serious issues. It's appropriate for discussing responsibilities, care, or attention. | This phrase is often used to advise someone to ignore specific advice or comments. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but may sound somewhat formal in casual conversation. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Neglect vs Pay no heed to that
What's the difference between Neglect and Pay no heed to that?
Neglect: To not pay attention to something or someone. Pay no heed to that: Don't listen to that.
Which is more common: Neglect and Pay no heed to that?
Neglect is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Neglect: He tends to neglect his health due to his busy schedule. Pay no heed to that: You should pay no heed to that gossip.
Can I use Neglect and Pay no heed to that interchangeably?
Not always. Neglect and Pay no heed to that 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.