Quit vs Resignation

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

Quit

Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb

Resignation

FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1noun
Most formal: ResignationMost common: Quit
 QuitResignation
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/kwɪt/","/kwɪts/","/ˈkwɪtɪd/","/ˈkwɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kwɪt/","/kwɪts/","/ˈkwɪtɪd/","/ˈkwɪtɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˌrezɪɡˈneɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌrezɪɡˈneɪʃn/"]/
MeaningTo stop doing something or leave a job.Giving up a job or position.
ExampleShe decided to quit her job and pursue her passion for painting.Her resignation from the company shocked all her colleagues who admired her dedication.
RegisterNeutralFormal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1C1
Part of speechverbnoun
Collocationsaltogether, abruptly, suddenly, try to, decide to, be ready to, as, over, give notice to quit, issue notice to quit, know when to quit, altogether, abruptly, suddenly, try to, decide to, be ready to, as, over, give notice to quit, issue notice to quit, know when to quit, altogether, abruptly, suddenly, try to, decide to, be ready to, as, over, give notice to quit, issue notice to quit, know when to quitimmediate, shock, sudden, hand in, submit, tender, be effective, become effective, letter, announcement, speech, resignation as, resignation from, a call for somebody’s resignation, a letter of resignation, resignation on (the) grounds of something, immediate, shock, sudden, hand in, submit, tender, be effective, become effective, letter, announcement, speech, resignation as, resignation from, a call for somebody’s resignation, a letter of resignation, resignation on (the) grounds of something, weary, quiet, in resignation, with resignation, resignation to, a look of resignation, a sigh of resignation
Antonymscontinue, persist, resumeemployment, retention
Common mistakes'Quit' is sometimes confused with 'give up', but 'quit' implies ending something permanently., 'Quit' is often incorrectly used with 'on' when indicating stopping a habit; it should be 'quit smoking', not 'quit on smoking'., Learners might misuse tenses, saying 'I quitted' instead of 'I quit'.Confused with 'resign' as a verb instead of the noun 'resignation'., Using 'resignation' in informal settings where 'quitting' would be more appropriate.
Usage notesUse 'quit' in contexts where someone stops an activity, like a job or a habit. It's usually more neutral; avoid using it in very formal contexts.Use 'resignation' in formal contexts, such as business or official communications. Avoid in casual conversations.

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Quit
Resignation

Frequently asked questions: Quit vs Resignation

What's the difference between Quit and Resignation?

Quit: To stop doing something or leave a job. Resignation: Giving up a job or position.

Which is more formal: Quit and Resignation?

Resignation is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Quit and Resignation?

Quit is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Quit and Resignation?

Resignation is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Quit and Resignation the same CEFR level?

Quit: B1, Resignation: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Quit and Resignation?

Quit: verb, Resignation: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Quit: She decided to quit her job and pursue her passion for painting. Resignation: Her resignation from the company shocked all her colleagues who admired her dedication.

Can I use Quit and Resignation interchangeably?

Not always. Quit and Resignation 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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