Cool MateSign vs There's a label
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Sign
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
There's a label
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Sign
| Sign | There's a label | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/saɪn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/saɪn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeərz ə ˈleɪbl//🇺🇸 //ðɛrz ə ˈleɪbəl// |
| Meaning | A symbol or action that shows something or gives information. | A tag or sticker with information. |
| Example | Please follow the sign to reach the train station. | There's a label on the package that says 'Fragile'. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | classic, clear, definite, bear, have, betray, appear, come, indicate something, at a/the sign, sign from, sign of, sign of life, a sign of the times, a sign of things to come, flashing, illuminated, neon, erect, hang, hang out, read something, announce something, proclaim something, sign for, sign to, rude, peace, thumbs-up, give (somebody), make, communicate through, language, system, sign for, make the sign of the cross, dollar, euro, pound, draw, use, mean something, sign for, birth, star, astrological, be born under, sign of, the signs of the Zodiac | price label, name label, warning label, address label |
| Antonyms | ignore, disregard | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'sine' in mathematical contexts., Using 'sign' as a verb incorrectly, e.g., 'I will sign that paper' without indicating what or who to sign., Misusing 'sign' for 'symbol' when differentiating context. | Confused with 'labeling' as a verb., Using 'there's' with plural subjects incorrectly. |
| Usage notes | Used in various contexts like directing people, indicating information, or marking something. More formal in legal contexts, and informal in everyday signage. | Used to refer to a piece of information attached to an item. Common in conversations about products, files, or categories. |
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Frequently asked questions: Sign vs There's a label
What's the difference between Sign and There's a label?
Sign: A symbol or action that shows something or gives information. There's a label: A tag or sticker with information.
Which is more common: Sign and There's a label?
Sign is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Sign: Please follow the sign to reach the train station. There's a label: There's a label on the package that says 'Fragile'.
Can I use Sign and There's a label interchangeably?
Not always. Sign and There's a label 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.