Cool MateGiven vs What with mal
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Given
Top 1,000 (very common)
What with mal
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: GivenMost common: Given
| Given | What with mal | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈgɪvən//🇺🇸 //ˈɡɪvən// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt wɪθ//🇺🇸 //wɑt wɪð// |
| Meaning | To provide something to someone. | A phrase used to explain a situation or reason. |
| Example | She was given a beautiful necklace for her birthday. | What with all the rain, we decided to stay indoors. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| Collocations | given that, given the opportunity, given up, given time, given circumstances | what with everything, what with the weather, what with all the kids |
| Antonyms | withhold, refuse | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'gave' which is the past tense., Incorrectly used as a noun instead of a verb., Not using the correct preposition after 'given'. | Incorrectly using 'what with' in formal contexts., Forgetting to follow with a noun or a gerund., Confusing 'what with' with 'due to'. |
| Usage notes | Often used to indicate the act of providing or allowing. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts. | Use 'what with' to list reasons; commonly used in conversation. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Given vs What with mal
What's the difference between Given and What with mal?
Given: To provide something to someone. What with mal: A phrase used to explain a situation or reason.
Which is more formal: Given and What with mal?
Given is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Given and What with mal?
Given is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Given: She was given a beautiful necklace for her birthday. What with mal: What with all the rain, we decided to stay indoors.
Can I use Given and What with mal interchangeably?
Not always. Given and What with mal 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.