Cool MateForgive yourself vs Move on
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Forgive yourself
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Move on
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Move on
| Forgive yourself | Move on | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fəˈɡɪv jɔːˈsɛlf//🇺🇸 //fərˈɡɪv jʊrˈsɛlf// | 🇬🇧 //muːv ɒn//🇺🇸 //muːv ɑn// |
| Meaning | To stop feeling bad about something you did wrong. | To start doing something new after something else has ended. |
| Example | It's important to forgive yourself after making a mistake. | After the breakup, it took her a while to move on. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | forgive yourself for mistakes, learn to forgive yourself, dare to forgive yourself, encourage yourself to forgive, try to forgive yourself | move on from the past, move on to bigger things, move on in life, move on after loss, move on quickly |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'excuse' vs 'forgive': 'excuse' is not the same as 'forgive'., Using 'forgive yourself' when talking about others: it's meant for personal reflection., Misunderstanding the concept of self-forgiveness as simply forgetting an action. | Confused with 'move out', which means to leave a place., Using 'move on' without a context of change., Incorrect verb tense (e.g., saying 'moved on to' instead of 'move on to'). |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase to encourage self-acceptance. It can be used in therapeutic or casual conversations but is less appropriate in formal contexts. | Used when transitioning from one phase or idea to another. Common in conversations about change, but less formal in professional settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Forgive yourself vs Move on
What's the difference between Forgive yourself and Move on?
Forgive yourself: To stop feeling bad about something you did wrong. Move on: To start doing something new after something else has ended.
Which is more common: Forgive yourself and Move on?
Move on is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Forgive yourself: It's important to forgive yourself after making a mistake. Move on: After the breakup, it took her a while to move on.
Can I use Forgive yourself and Move on interchangeably?
Not always. Forgive yourself and Move on 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.