Common Mistakes : Realize

Realize- Verb BAD : The criminal mind is not always easy to realize

GOOD : The criminal mind is not always easy to understand

‘BAD : I didn’t realize the meaning of ‘junk mail

‘GOOD : I didn’t understand the meaning of ‘junk mail

KNOW • REALIZE • RECOGNIZE • UNDERSTAND

Know be aware of a fact or particular piece of information: Do you know their new telephone number? I know she’s fond of you. She told me so herself

Realize suddenly become aware of a fact or the true meaning of something, especially because you have though about it or received new information about it: ‘I suddenly realized that the thumping I could hear was the sound of my own heart.’ ‘It was only when I saw the expression on the doctor’s face that I realized the seriousness of her illness

Recognize know what something is because you have seen/heard/smelled it before; know who someone is because you have seen them before: ‘I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you – you’ve had your hair cut

Understand know what something means, what causes something, how something operates, how someone feels etc: ‘I’ve never really understood physics.’ Such behaviour is very difficult to understand

BAD : The school year is divided into three terms, as you realize

GOOD : The school year is divided into three terms, as you know

BAD : Nobody realized whether he was coming

GOOD : Nobody knew whether he was coming

BAD : Our own mistakes are sometimes difficult to realize

GOOD : Our own mistakes are sometimes difficult to recognize

BAD : I’m sure you will realize the song when you hear it

GOOD : I’m sure you will recognize the song when you hear it

BAD : The headmaster realized his threat and sent the children home

GOOD : The headmaster carried out his threat and sent the children home

BAD : Many people in developing countries do not realize family planning

GOOD : Many people in developing countries do not practise family planning

When realize means ‘make something actually happen or become real’, it is usually used with words such as ambition, intention, expectation, hope, dream, fear : I feel confident that the high expectations I have of my new job will be realized