Cool MateNotify vs Tellin'
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Notify
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Tellin'
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Notify
| Notify | Tellin' | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɛl//🇺🇸 //tɛl// |
| Meaning | to tell someone about something | To speak or inform someone about something. |
| Example | Competition winners will be notified by post. | Can you tell me where the nearest station is? |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | forthwith, immediately, promptly, be obliged to, be required to, must, of, to | tell a story, tell the truth, tell someone a secret, tell the time, tell jokes |
| Antonyms | ignore, neglect, overlook | conceal, hide, suppress |
| Common mistakes | Using 'notify' without an object (e.g., saying 'I will notify' instead of 'I will notify you')., Confusing 'notify' with 'inform' — while similar, 'notify' implies a more formal notification., Mixing up prepositions (e.g., saying 'notify with' instead of 'notify about') | Confused with 'say' - 'tell' needs an object., Using 'tell' without specifying the listener., Incorrectly using 'to tell' instead of 'telling'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'notify' in situations where you are formally informing someone, like in business or official contexts. Avoid in casual conversations. | Use 'tell' in casual conversations. It’s not suitable for formal writing. Avoid overusing it in storytelling, as it can sound dull. |
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Frequently asked questions: Notify vs Tellin'
What's the difference between Notify and Tellin'?
Notify: to tell someone about something Tellin': To speak or inform someone about something.
Which is more formal: Notify and Tellin'?
Notify is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Notify: Competition winners will be notified by post. Tellin': Can you tell me where the nearest station is?
Can I use Notify and Tellin' interchangeably?
Not always. Notify and Tellin' 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.