Recognize vs You make it a blue-ribbon special

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

Recognize

Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb

You make it a blue-ribbon special

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Recognize
 RecognizeYou make it a blue-ribbon special
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //jʊ ˈmeɪk ɪt ə ˈbluː ˈrɪbən ˈspɛʃəl//🇺🇸 //jʊ ˈmeɪk ɪt ə ˈbluː ˈrɪbən ˈspɛʃəl//
Meaningto see or know someone or something againYou create something that is excellent or award-winning.
ExampleI can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room.You really make it a blue-ribbon special with your decorations!
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsimmediately, instantly, correctly, learn to, be easy to, as, by, from, clearly, fully, belatedly, must, need to, begin to, as, be commonly recognized, be generally recognized, be universally recognized, clearly, federally, formally, agree to, refuse to, as, be legally recognized, a refusal to recognize somethingmake it special, blue-ribbon winner, create something memorable, add a special touch, highlight the excellence
Antonymsignore, overlook, miss-
Common mistakesConfusing 'recognize' with 'realize', Using 'recognize' without an object (e.g., 'I recognize' instead of 'I recognize her'), Mixing up tenses, like saying 'recognized' instead of 'recognize' in present situationsConfusing 'blue-ribbon' with other colors., Using the phrase in negative contexts., Omitting 'it' when forming the phrase.
Usage notesUse 'recognize' when acknowledging something you already know. It's appropriate for everyday conversations but avoid in situations requiring formal language, like legal documents.Use this phrase when emphasizing the quality or excellence of something. It's neutral and suitable for both casual and formal contexts.

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Recognize
You make it a blue-ribbon special

Frequently asked questions: Recognize vs You make it a blue-ribbon special

What's the difference between Recognize and You make it a blue-ribbon special?

Recognize: to see or know someone or something again You make it a blue-ribbon special: You create something that is excellent or award-winning.

Which is more common: Recognize and You make it a blue-ribbon special?

Recognize is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Recognize: I can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room. You make it a blue-ribbon special: You really make it a blue-ribbon special with your decorations!

Can I use Recognize and You make it a blue-ribbon special interchangeably?

Not always. Recognize and You make it a blue-ribbon special 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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