Cool MateAccept vs Please don't deny it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accept
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Please don't deny it
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Accept
| Accept | Please don't deny it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əkˈsept/","/əkˈsepts/","/əkˈseptɪd/","/əkˈseptɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əkˈsept/","/əkˈsepts/","/əkˈseptɪd/","/əkˈseptɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pliːz dəʊnt dɪˈnaɪ ɪt//🇺🇸 //pliz doʊnt dɪˈnaɪ ɪt// |
| Meaning | To agree to receive something or to believe it is true. | Don't say something is not true. |
| Example | I am happy to accept your invitation to the party. | Everyone saw you at the party, so please don't deny it. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | eagerly, gladly, graciously, be glad to, be happy to, be reluctant to, from, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted, eagerly, gladly, graciously, be glad to, be happy to, be reluctant to, from, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted | deny the truth, deny responsibility, deny accusations, deny feelings, deny knowledge |
| Antonyms | reject, decline, refuse | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'except' - remember 'accept' means to receive., Using 'accept' without an object - always specify what is being accepted., Mixing up 'accept' and 'admit' - 'accept' is about receiving, while 'admit' often implies recognition. | Confused with 'deny' vs 'refuse', Using in overly formal situations, Misplacing 'it' leading to confusion |
| Usage notes | Used when someone agrees to something offered, like an invitation or a proposal. It's appropriate in both formal and casual contexts but may become less common in very informal speech. | Used to request honesty or confirmation. Appropriate in both serious and casual conversations. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Accept vs Please don't deny it
What's the difference between Accept and Please don't deny it?
Accept: To agree to receive something or to believe it is true. Please don't deny it: Don't say something is not true.
Which is more common: Accept and Please don't deny it?
Accept is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Accept: I am happy to accept your invitation to the party. Please don't deny it: Everyone saw you at the party, so please don't deny it.
Can I use Accept and Please don't deny it interchangeably?
Not always. Accept and Please don't deny it 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.