What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
collate
Example
Please collate all the research papers and arrange them in alphabetical order. [collate: verb]
Example
The librarian spent hours collating the books according to their genres. [collating: gerund or present participle]
compare
Example
Let's compare the prices of these two laptops before making a decision. [compare: verb]
Example
The teacher asked the students to write an essay comparing the themes of two different novels. [comparing: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Compare is more commonly used than collate in everyday language. Compare is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while collate is more specific and often used in research, data analysis, or document management.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between collate and compare?
While compare can be used in both formal and informal contexts, collate is typically associated with a more formal tone due to its specialized usage in research and data analysis.
