Cool MateRecord vs Write
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Record
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Write
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
| Record | Write | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrekɔːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrekərd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/raɪt/","/raɪts/","/rəʊt/","/ˈrɪtn/","/ˈraɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/raɪt/","/raɪts/","/rəʊt/","/ˈrɪtn/","/ˈraɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To write down or save information. | To use letters and words on paper or a screen. |
| Example | I bought a new record of my favorite artist yesterday. | I like to write stories about my adventures. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | formal, official, public, keep, maintain, compile, contain something, include something, indicate something, in the record, in the records, off the record, access to the records, have a record of something, have no record of something, club, course, national, hold, establish, set, stand, fall, book, attempt, breaker, record for, record with, in record time, past, track, distinguished, have, possess, establish, demonstrate something, show something, compare with something, record among, record for, record in, long-playing, LP, gramophone, write, cut, make, company, industry, label, long-playing, LP, gramophone, write, cut, make, company, industry, label | clearly, neatly, busily, learn to, teach somebody to, be able to, in, on, with, beautifully, eloquently, well, commission somebody to, inspire somebody to, prompt somebody to, about, for, from, beautifully, eloquently, well, commission somebody to, inspire somebody to, prompt somebody to, about, for, from, beautifully, eloquently, well, commission somebody to, inspire somebody to, prompt somebody to, about, for, from |
| Antonyms | erase, delete | erase, delete |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'recorded' when discussing past actions., Using 'record' incorrectly as a noun instead of a verb., Mixing up 'record' with 'recall' which has a different meaning. | Confuse with 'right' when speaking quickly., Use 'write' instead of 'writing' in continuous tenses., Forget to use 'to' when saying 'write to someone'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'record' when talking about saving audio, video, or information. It's suitable in most contexts, but in casual speech, phrases like 'make a recording' may sound more natural. | Commonly used in both spoken and written English. Suitable for formal contexts (like essays) and informal settings (like text messages). Avoid in contexts where the meaning is more about typing or printing rather than creating content. |
Frequently asked questions: Record vs Write
What's the difference between Record and Write?
Record: To write down or save information. Write: To use letters and words on paper or a screen.
Are Record and Write the same CEFR level?
Record: A2, Write: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Record and Write interchangeably?
Not always. Record and Write 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.