Confusable words

remember vs remind: what's the difference?

remember
verb
vs
remind
verb
? ?

Remember and remind both involve memory, but one is something you do, and the other is something you do for someone else.

Remember

verb

Remember means to recall something in your own mind.

  • I remember meeting her at the party.
  • Did you remember to lock the door?

Remind

verb

Remind means to help someone else remember something.

  • Please remind me to call the dentist.
  • This song reminds me of summer.

Side by side

remember remind
Who does the remembering? You, in your own mind Someone else, because of you
Needs an object? No object needed Yes, remind someone
Simple test "I remember" means it's in my memory "Remind me" means help my memory

Quick rule

You remember something yourself. You remind someone else. If a person comes right after the verb, you want remind.

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