Advocate vs He's a good lawyer

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

Advocate

Top 2,000 (common)C1noun

He's a good lawyer

Top 2,000 (common)
 AdvocateHe's a good lawyer
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈædvəkət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈædvəkət/"]/🇬🇧 //hiːz ə ɡʊd ˈlɔːjə//🇺🇸 //hiz ə ɡʊd ˈlɔɪər//
MeaningTo support or argue for something or someone.A person who helps others with legal problems.
Examplean advocate for hospital workersHe's a good lawyer because he always wins cases.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsardent, effective, firm, argue, claim, say, advocate for, advocate of, solicitor, judgegood lawyer, experienced lawyer, criminal lawyer, family lawyer, expert lawyer
Antonymsoppose, resist, discourage-
Common mistakesConfused with 'advice' which is the act of recommending., Using it as a noun instead of the verb form (advocates are the ones who advocate)., Incorrect verb conjugation, e.g., saying 'advocates for' instead of 'advocates'.Confusing 'lawyer' with 'attorney.', Using 'good' too generally; specify what makes them good., Assuming all lawyers are good without context.
Usage notesUse 'advocate' when discussing support for ideas, causes, or people. It's appropriate in both writing and speech, especially in professional or political contexts. Avoid using in very casual conversations.Used to describe someone who practices law effectively. Appropriate in both casual and formal conversations.

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He's a good lawyer

Frequently asked questions: Advocate vs He's a good lawyer

What's the difference between Advocate and He's a good lawyer?

Advocate: To support or argue for something or someone. He's a good lawyer: A person who helps others with legal problems.

Can you show an example of each?

Advocate: an advocate for hospital workers He's a good lawyer: He's a good lawyer because he always wins cases.

Can I use Advocate and He's a good lawyer interchangeably?

Not always. Advocate and He's a good lawyer 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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