Cool MateTo inform you vs Update
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
To inform you
Top 2,000 (common)
Update
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Most common: Update
| To inform you | Update | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //tə ɪnˈfɔːm jʊ//🇺🇸 //tə ɪnˈfɔrm jʊ// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌʌpˈdeɪt/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪts/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪd/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌʌpˈdeɪt/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪts/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪd/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To tell you something important. | To make something new or better. |
| Example | I want to inform you about the meeting tomorrow. | Please update the software to the latest version. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | inform you of, inform you about, require to inform, inform you subsequently, hope to inform | constantly, continually, continuously, try to, need to, on, to, with, constantly, continually, continuously, try to, need to, on, to, with |
| Antonyms | - | degrade, downgrade |
| Common mistakes | Often used incorrectly as 'inform about'., Confused with 'to notify you'., Using too many formal words makes it sound unnatural. | Confusing 'update' with 'upgrade', which means to improve or enhance something., Using 'updating' as a noun, instead of 'update'., Omitting the object when saying 'I will update' — it should be clear what is being updated. |
| Usage notes | Use 'to inform you' to notify someone of important news or updates. It’s suitable for both formal and casual contexts. | Use 'update' when talking about changing information to reflect new details. It's appropriate in both personal and professional contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: To inform you vs Update
What's the difference between To inform you and Update?
To inform you: To tell you something important. Update: To make something new or better.
Which is more common: To inform you and Update?
Update is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
To inform you: I want to inform you about the meeting tomorrow. Update: Please update the software to the latest version.
Can I use To inform you and Update interchangeably?
Not always. To inform you and Update 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.