Oaths vs We'll write our own vows

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

Oaths

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

We'll write our own vows

Top 3,000 (common)

Most formal: Oaths Most common: We'll write our own vows

	Oaths	We'll write our own vows
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //oʊθs// 🇺🇸 //oʊθs//	🇬🇧 //wiːl raɪt aʊər oʊn vaʊz// 🇺🇸 //wiːl raɪt aʊər oʊn vaʊz//
Meaning	Formal promises, often made publicly.	Promises we make to each other during a wedding.
Example	The witness took several oaths before testifying in court.	During the ceremony, we'll write our own vows to express our love.
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 3,000 (common)
Collocations	take an oath, swear oaths, make oaths, honor oaths	write vows, exchange vows, personal vows, traditional vows, meaningful vows
Antonyms	dishonor, break a promise	-
Common mistakes	Confused with 'oathes'; the correct plural is 'oaths'., Using 'oath' instead of 'oaths' when referring to multiple promises., Misunderstanding the religious context; not all oaths are religious.	Incorrectly using 'vow' as a verb instead of a noun., Confusing 'vows' with 'vows' when referring to promises., Using 'will' inappropriately in different contexts.
Usage notes	Used in official or legal contexts. Avoid in casual conversations. 'Take an oath' is a more common phrase.	Commonly used in wedding contexts. Suitable for both spoken and written language, particularly in romantic or formal settings.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Now is the hour. Riders of Rohan, oaths you have taken.

Oaths

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

Simple ceremony. We'll write our own vows.

We'll write our own vows

Frequently asked questions: Oaths vs We'll write our own vows

What's the difference between Oaths and We'll write our own vows?

Oaths: Formal promises, often made publicly. We'll write our own vows: Promises we make to each other during a wedding.

Which is more formal: Oaths and We'll write our own vows?

Oaths is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Oaths and We'll write our own vows?

We'll write our own vows is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Oaths: The witness took several oaths before testifying in court. We'll write our own vows: During the ceremony, we'll write our own vows to express our love.

Can I use Oaths and We'll write our own vows interchangeably?

Not always. Oaths and We'll write our own vows 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.