Choose vs Select

[Vishnya]

Hello,
I often use sentences with choose (select). Can you explain the difference between them? Which is better to use in technical documentation?
TIA, Jane.

[Conchita]

In common usage, both 'choose' and 'select' are often interchanged. Yet in some contexts, this isn't possible. For example, when 'choose' has the sense of 'decide': In the end they chose not to go to the beach.

Some say that one implies more thought than the other -- there seems to be a bit of disagreement on this. Also, 'choose' is more commonly used than 'select', which, in some contexts, might be slightly formal.

[Jgkarm]

While they seem similar, choose and select are quite different. You choose a single item or person and you select multiple items or people.

When you have to pick one thing or person from a group, you are choosing. However when picking out things or people from that group, you are selecting those things or people.