Discard vs Remove one of the stones

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

Discard

Top 3,000 (common)C1verb

Remove one of the stones

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Remove one of the stones
 DiscardRemove one of the stones
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //dɪsˈkɑːd//🇺🇸 //dɪsˈkɑrd//🇬🇧 //rɪˈmuːv//🇺🇸 //rɪˈmuːv//
MeaningTo throw something away or get rid of it.Take away one of the rocks.
ExamplePlease discard any items that are damaged.Please remove one of the stones from the pathway.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsdiscard a plan, discard evidence, discard old habitsremove a stone, remove obstacles, remove an item, remove from the list, remove barriers
Antonymskeep, retain, preserve-
Common mistakesConfuse with 'dispose of' which has similar meaning but is more formal., Use 'discard' incorrectly with non-physical items, like feelings., Misuse the tense; should be 'discarded' in past forms.Confused with 'take off' when referring to clothing., Using 'remove' without specifying the object., Forgetting to use 'one of' when referring to a specific stone.
Usage notesUse 'discard' when talking about getting rid of things that are no longer wanted or needed. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.Used in everyday conversation, appropriate for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in overly formal writing.

See it in real clips

Remove one of the stones

Frequently asked questions: Discard vs Remove one of the stones

What's the difference between Discard and Remove one of the stones?

Discard: To throw something away or get rid of it. Remove one of the stones: Take away one of the rocks.

Which is more common: Discard and Remove one of the stones?

Remove one of the stones is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Discard: Please discard any items that are damaged. Remove one of the stones: Please remove one of the stones from the pathway.

Can I use Discard and Remove one of the stones interchangeably?

Not always. Discard and Remove one of the stones 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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