Posted vs Sent

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

Posted

Top 2,000 (common)

Sent

Top 1,000 (very common)

Most common: Sent

	Posted	Sent
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ˈpəʊstɪd// 🇺🇸 //ˈpoʊstɪd//	🇬🇧 //sɛnt// 🇺🇸 //sɛnt//
Meaning	Sent or delivered something, usually a message or package.	Gave something to someone using a message or delivery.
Example	I posted the letter yesterday.	I sent the package yesterday.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
Collocations	posted online, posted letter, posted package, quickly posted, have posted	sent a message, sent an email, sent a request, sent a letter
Antonyms	-	received, withheld
Common mistakes	Confused with 'post' as a verb and 'posted' as a past tense., Using 'posted' for things that are not sent, like physical items in a store., Incorrectly assuming 'posted' can only refer to digital messages.	Used 'send' instead of 'sent' for past tense., 'Sent' confused with 'scent' or 'cent'., Omitted the recipient or object in the sentence.
Usage notes	Use 'posted' for sending mail or online messages. In formal writing, avoid using it for personal communications.	Use 'sent' in past contexts. Formal for written communication, informal for casual messages.

See it in real clips

Succession › S1 E1

I'll keep you posted.

Posted

- I sent him to Franklin and Erie. - Got it.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

but this morning, if you please, she sent for her box.

I was sent by a friend of Johnny Fontane.

- I sent him to Franklin and Erie. - Got it.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

but this morning, if you please, she sent for her box.

Sent

Frequently asked questions: Posted vs Sent

What's the difference between Posted and Sent?

Posted: Sent or delivered something, usually a message or package. Sent: Gave something to someone using a message or delivery.

Which is more common: Posted and Sent?

Sent is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Posted: I posted the letter yesterday. Sent: I sent the package yesterday.

Can I use Posted and Sent interchangeably?

Not always. Posted and Sent 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.