Cool MateSeparate vs Strain those out
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Separate
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Strain those out
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Separate
| Separate | Strain those out | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈseprət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈseprət/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //streɪn ðəʊz aʊt//🇺🇸 //streɪn ðoʊz aʊt// |
| Meaning | To put things apart from each other. | To remove or separate solid pieces from a liquid. |
| Example | It's important to keep the separate components of the experiment organized. | After boiling the pasta, you should strain those out before serving. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, become, remain, somewhat, very, essentially, from, go your separate ways, be, become, remain, somewhat, very, essentially, from, go your separate ways | strain the pasta, strain the mixture, strain the vegetables |
| Antonyms | combine, join, unite | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Seperate' is a common misspelling., 'Separating' is sometimes incorrectly used with a direct object when it should not be. | Using 'strain' without an object, e.g., 'strain out should have an object.', Confusing 'strain' with 'drain' which has different nuances., Not using 'those' correctly in a plural context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'separate' when discussing dividing items or concepts. It's neutral, suitable for both written and spoken contexts. Avoid in overly casual conversations. | Use in cooking contexts when separating ingredients. Avoid using in formal writing, as it's more colloquial. |
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Frequently asked questions: Separate vs Strain those out
What's the difference between Separate and Strain those out?
Separate: To put things apart from each other. Strain those out: To remove or separate solid pieces from a liquid.
Which is more common: Separate and Strain those out?
Separate is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Separate: It's important to keep the separate components of the experiment organized. Strain those out: After boiling the pasta, you should strain those out before serving.
Can I use Separate and Strain those out interchangeably?
Not always. Separate and Strain those out 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.