What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recount
Example
She recounted her experience of climbing the mountain. [recount: verb]
Example
The newspaper published a recount of the accident. [recount: noun]
retell
Example
Can you retell the story of Little Red Riding Hood? [retell: verb]
Example
He retold the events of the party to his friend. [retold: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Retell is more commonly used than recount in everyday language. Retell is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while recount is less common and often used in official or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recount and retell?
Recount is more formal and often used in official or academic contexts, while retell is more informal and commonly used in everyday conversation.
