Advance vs We have to be moving on

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

Advance

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun

We have to be moving on

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Advance
 AdvanceWe have to be moving on
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ədˈvɑːns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈvæns/"]/🇬🇧 //wiː hæv tə biː ˈmuːvɪŋ ɒn//🇺🇸 //wi hæv tə bi ˈmuːvɪŋ ɑn//
MeaningTo move forward or make progress.We need to continue or leave.
ExampleShe received an advance on her salary this month.We have to be moving on to the next venue for the party.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsbig, considerable, dramatic, make, advance in, advance on, advance towards/​toward, rapid, Allied, British, make, order, halt, advance on, advance to, advance towards/​toward, large, cash, give, pay, get, advance of, advance on, amorous, sexual, make, advance tohave to be moving on soon, have to be moving on already, we have to be moving on quickly
Antonymsretreat, halt, decline-
Common mistakes'Advance' is sometimes confused with 'advancement', which means progress in a job or career., Learners may misuse 'advance' when they mean 'wait' instead of moving forward., Some may think 'advance' only applies to physical movement, excluding abstract uses like 'advancing knowledge'.Confused with 'move on' which can mean to progress emotionally., Using it too formally in casual conversations., Not using it when actually needing to leave or change topics.
Usage notesUse 'advance' in both formal and informal contexts, often when discussing progress or improvement. Not typically used in casual conversation without context.Use this phrase to indicate the need to progress, typically in situations where time is limited or change is necessary. It's appropriate in various contexts, such as discussions, meetings, or social gatherings.

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Advance
We have to be moving on

Frequently asked questions: Advance vs We have to be moving on

What's the difference between Advance and We have to be moving on?

Advance: To move forward or make progress. We have to be moving on: We need to continue or leave.

Which is more common: Advance and We have to be moving on?

Advance is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Advance: She received an advance on her salary this month. We have to be moving on: We have to be moving on to the next venue for the party.

Can I use Advance and We have to be moving on interchangeably?

Not always. Advance and We have to be moving on 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.

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