Recall and remember

[Tom]

Hi

Could you please tell me the difference between 'recall' and 'remember'?

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

Those two words are often interchangeable, but not always. The verb 'recall' cannot be used to mean 'not forget to do'.

For example, you can say this:
Did you remember to lock the door?
But you cannot say this:
Did you recall to lock the door.

They are basically interchangeable when you mean 'bring (something) back into your mind' or 'not forget doing (something)'.
You can say these:
Do you remember locking the door?
Do you remember his name?
And you can say these:
Do you recall locking the door?
Do you recall his name?

Maybe someone else will have some further comment for you.
.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Alan]

Hi Tom,

My word you're busy this morning! 'Recall' often has a touch of pomposity about it. For example if someone asks you to tell them the name of a film/play or whatever, you could simply reply: 'I can't remember it'. To my mind if you said: 'I can't recall it', that would sound a bit highfalutin.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Yankee]