Please don't deny it vs Recognize

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Please don't deny it

Top 2,000 (common)

Recognize

Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Recognize
 Please don't deny itRecognize
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //pliːz dəʊnt dɪˈnaɪ ɪt//🇺🇸 //pliz doʊnt dɪˈnaɪ ɪt//🇬🇧 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/
MeaningDon't say something is not true.to see or know someone or something again
ExampleEveryone saw you at the party, so please don't deny it.I can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A2
Part of speechverb
Collocationsdeny the truth, deny responsibility, deny accusations, deny feelings, deny knowledgeimmediately, instantly, correctly, learn to, be easy to, as, by, from, clearly, fully, belatedly, must, need to, begin to, as, be commonly recognized, be generally recognized, be universally recognized, clearly, federally, formally, agree to, refuse to, as, be legally recognized, a refusal to recognize something
Antonyms-ignore, overlook, miss
Common mistakesConfused with 'deny' vs 'refuse', Using in overly formal situations, Misplacing 'it' leading to confusionConfusing 'recognize' with 'realize', Using 'recognize' without an object (e.g., 'I recognize' instead of 'I recognize her'), Mixing up tenses, like saying 'recognized' instead of 'recognize' in present situations
Usage notesUsed to request honesty or confirmation. Appropriate in both serious and casual conversations. Avoid in formal writing.Use 'recognize' when acknowledging something you already know. It's appropriate for everyday conversations but avoid in situations requiring formal language, like legal documents.

See it in real clips

Please don't deny it
Recognize

Frequently asked questions: Please don't deny it vs Recognize

What's the difference between Please don't deny it and Recognize?

Please don't deny it: Don't say something is not true. Recognize: to see or know someone or something again

Which is more common: Please don't deny it and Recognize?

Recognize is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Please don't deny it: Everyone saw you at the party, so please don't deny it. Recognize: I can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room.

Can I use Please don't deny it and Recognize interchangeably?

Not always. Please don't deny it and Recognize 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.

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