Convince vs Persuade: What's the Difference?
What's the Difference?
Convince means to make someone believe that something is true, while persuade means to convince someone to do an action.
Memory Tip: convince = change mind, persuade = change action
convince ends with /s/, persuade ends with /d/
convince
verbTo convince someone means to make them believe that something is true or to persuade them to do something.
Example:
Although the evidence was strong, the jury had not been convinced by the arguments presented until the final witness testified.
Common patterns:
convince someone
convince someone to do something
be convinced
persuade
verbTo persuade someone means to make them believe or do something by giving them good reasons.
Example:
Although she had been trying to persuade her parents for weeks, they still wouldn't allow her to go on the trip with her friends.
Common patterns:
persuade someone to do something
persuade someone that
be persuaded by
Common Mistakes
She convinced me to join the gym.
She persuaded me to join the gym.
The sentence refers to taking an action (joining the gym), so 'persuaded' is correct.
He persuaded me that the Earth is round.
He convinced me that the Earth is round.
The sentence refers to believing a fact (the Earth is round), so 'convinced' is correct.
Quick Practice
0/1 correct1. Although she had been trying to ____ her parents for weeks, they still wouldn't allow her to go on the trip with her friends.
Other Confusing Words
Never confuse convince / persuade again
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