Depart vs You go

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

Depart

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

You go

Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: You go
 DepartYou go
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //dɪˈpɑːt//🇺🇸 //dɪˈpɑrt//🇬🇧 //juː ɡəʊ//🇺🇸 //ju ɡoʊ//
MeaningTo leave a placeTo move to another place.
ExampleThe train will depart from platform 5 at 3 PM.You go to the store every Saturday.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsdepart from the norm, depart for a destination, depart on schedulego away, go outside, go home, go shopping, go out
Antonymsarrive, stay, remain-
Common mistakesUsing 'depart' with 'from' instead of just the destination, Confusing it with 'leave', Not using it in the correct tenseUsing 'going' instead of 'go' in simple present tense., Confusing 'you go' with past tense forms., Omitting the subject 'you' in imperative forms.
Usage notesUse 'depart' in formal contexts or travel-related discussions. Less common in casual dialogue.Used to indicate movement from one location to another. Common in casual or everyday conversations, but can be used in more formal contexts as well. Avoid using in very formal writing.

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You go

Frequently asked questions: Depart vs You go

What's the difference between Depart and You go?

Depart: To leave a place You go: To move to another place.

Which is more common: Depart and You go?

You go is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Depart: The train will depart from platform 5 at 3 PM. You go: You go to the store every Saturday.

Can I use Depart and You go interchangeably?

Not always. Depart and You go 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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