I'll keep you posted vs Notify

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

I'll keep you posted

InformalTop 2,000 (common)

Notify

Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most formal: Notify
 I'll keep you postedNotify
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //aɪl kiːp jʊ ˈpəʊstɪd//🇺🇸 //aɪl kip jʊ ˈpoʊstɪd//🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/
MeaningI'll let you know the latest news.to tell someone about something
ExampleI'll keep you posted on the project's progress.Competition winners will be notified by post.
RegisterInformalNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-C1
Part of speechverb
Collocationskeep someone posted, keep you updated, keep me informedforthwith, immediately, promptly, be obliged to, be required to, must, of, to
Antonyms-ignore, neglect, overlook
Common mistakesUsing it in formal emails where more formal language is required., Confusing it with 'keep in touch', which implies broader communication.Using 'notify' without an object (e.g., saying 'I will notify' instead of 'I will notify you')., Confusing 'notify' with 'inform' — while similar, 'notify' implies a more formal notification., Mixing up prepositions (e.g., saying 'notify with' instead of 'notify about')
Usage notesCommonly used in casual conversations to indicate you will update someone on progress or news. Less appropriate in formal situations.Use 'notify' in situations where you are formally informing someone, like in business or official contexts. Avoid in casual conversations.

See it in real clips

I'll keep you posted
Notify

Frequently asked questions: I'll keep you posted vs Notify

What's the difference between I'll keep you posted and Notify?

I'll keep you posted: I'll let you know the latest news. Notify: to tell someone about something

Which is more formal: I'll keep you posted and Notify?

Notify is the most formal of these.

Can you show an example of each?

I'll keep you posted: I'll keep you posted on the project's progress. Notify: Competition winners will be notified by post.

Can I use I'll keep you posted and Notify interchangeably?

Not always. I'll keep you posted and Notify 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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