"Convince" vs. "Persuade" in English (2024)

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both of these words refer to making someone do something. However, 'convince' refers to making someone believe something, whereas, 'persuade' indicates that we make someone do something, which is usually done through conflicts and reasoning.

Differences

'Convince' and 'persuade' both refer to making someone change their beliefs or actions. However, 'convince' mainly focuses on the mind. In other words, we use convince when we want to change someone's belief. Look:

I was finally able to convince my mom about my friend's party.

How did she manage to convince that narcissistic mother of hers/

When we use 'persuade', we try to make someone take action. It is usually done by providing reasons or arguing with them. Look at the following examples:

Now, let's discuss how we can persuade text dad.

In the end, she couldn't persuade her girlfriend to come fishing with her.

Similarities

Their only similarity is that they both refer to changing someone, either their attitude or their action. Examine the following examples:

Convincing dad that everything has happened because of his childhood is the hard part.

I was persuading my friend to reveal the secret to me when you came in.

Are They Interchangeable?

It is recommended not to use them interchangeably because the listener might get confused. In a context where we want someone to change their attitude, we 'convince' them, whereas, we 'persuade' someone to change their belif. Compare:

The professor wasn't convinced as to why he was biased.