Bear in mind vs Consider vs Recognize vs Remember

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

Bear in mind

Top 2,000 (common)

Consider

Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb

Recognize

Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb

Remember

Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
 Bear in mindConsiderRecognizeRemember
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //bɛə(r) ɪn maɪnd//🇺🇸 //bɛr ɪn maɪnd//🇬🇧 //kənˈsɪdə//🇺🇸 //kənˈsɪdər//🇬🇧 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmembə(r)/","/rɪˈmembəz/","/rɪˈmembəd/","/rɪˈmembərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmembər/","/rɪˈmembərz/","/rɪˈmembərd/","/rɪˈmembərɪŋ/"]/
MeaningRemember or consider something.To think about something carefully.to see or know someone or something againTo keep something in your mind.
ExamplePlease bear in mind that the deadline is next week.I will consider your suggestion.I can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room.Please remember to bring your homework tomorrow.
RegisterNeutralNeutralNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A2A2A1
Part of speechverbverbverb
Collocationsbear in mind that, bear in mind when, bear in mind the fact, please bear in mind, don't forget to bear in mindconsider carefully, consider an option, consider a possibilityimmediately, instantly, correctly, learn to, be easy to, as, by, from, clearly, fully, belatedly, must, need to, begin to, as, be commonly recognized, be generally recognized, be universally recognized, clearly, federally, formally, agree to, refuse to, as, be legally recognized, a refusal to recognize somethingclearly, distinctly, vividly, can, try to, be important to, as, for, clearly, distinctly, vividly, can, try to, be important to, as, for, clearly, distinctly, vividly, can, try to, be important to, as, for
Antonyms-ignore, dismiss, overlookignore, overlook, missforget
Common mistakesOmitting 'in mind' and saying just 'bear'., Using it in questions like 'Can you bear in mind?' instead of statements., Confusing with 'keep in mind' which has similar meaning but is more casual.Confuse with 'considering' which is a different form., Omit the object, e.g., saying 'Consider' without specifying what., Mix with 'contemplate', which has a deeper meaning.Confusing 'recognize' with 'realize', Using 'recognize' without an object (e.g., 'I recognize' instead of 'I recognize her'), Mixing up tenses, like saying 'recognized' instead of 'recognize' in present situationsUsing 'remember' when you mean 'remind'., Confusion between 'remember' and 'forget'., Omitting the object, e.g., saying 'I remember' without specifying what.
Usage notesUse this expression to remind someone to think of an important point. It's neutral, so it's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.Use 'consider' when you are thinking about options or possibilities. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations.Use 'recognize' when acknowledging something you already know. It's appropriate for everyday conversations but avoid in situations requiring formal language, like legal documents.Use 'remember' when referring to recalling information or past experiences. It is neutral and widely applicable but avoid in very formal contexts where alternatives like 'recollect' might be more suitable.

See it in real clips

Bear in mind
Consider
Recognize
Remember

Frequently asked questions: Bear in mind vs Consider vs Recognize vs Remember

What's the difference between Bear in mind, Consider, Recognize, and Remember?

Bear in mind: Remember or consider something. Consider: To think about something carefully. Recognize: to see or know someone or something again Remember: To keep something in your mind.

Can you show an example of each?

Bear in mind: Please bear in mind that the deadline is next week. Consider: I will consider your suggestion. Recognize: I can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room. Remember: Please remember to bring your homework tomorrow.

Can I use Bear in mind, Consider, Recognize, and Remember interchangeably?

Not always. Bear in mind, Consider, Recognize, and Remember 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.

Related comparisons