What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recount
Example
He recounted his experience of climbing the mountain to his friends. [recounted: verb]
Example
The witness was asked to recount the events leading up to the accident. [recount: verb]
relate
Example
She related her travel experiences to her family. [related: verb]
Example
The teacher tried to relate the lesson to real-life situations. [relate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Relate is more commonly used than recount in everyday language. Relate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while recount is less common and is typically used in the context of storytelling or retelling an event.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recount and relate?
Recount is typically associated with a formal and objective tone, while relate is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
