Convince vs. Persuade
Sometimes words that we think of as synonyms do have slight shades of difference in their meanings. Convince and persuade are two such words. While these words are often used interchangeably, careful speakers and writers still try to use them more precisely, as they do have slight variations in meaning. Let's take a closer look.
Convince is a verb meaning to cause someone to believe the truth of something. Some sources also say that it means to persuade to do something.
1. Lois was convinced she was right.
2. How can I convince you that I am innocent?
3. Mrs. Tanner convinces our class every day that math is fun!
Persuade is also a verb meaning to cause someone to do something, often providing evidence for why the action should be taken. Some sources also say that it means to convince someone to believe the truth of something.
1. Mark persuaded me to try to meatloaf.
2. How can I persuade your mom to let you go to the movies with me?
While these two words are used interchangeably today, convince traditional has been used to refer to causing a change in beliefs, while persuade has been about causing someone to take a specific action. This distinction is fading over time; however, if you are convinced that your writing should be as technically correct as possible, observe the slight difference between these two terms!
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