Persuade-Convince | Commonly Confused Words

Persuade

/pəˈsweɪd/

To convince someone to do or believe something through reasoning or argument

Ralph had persuaded her into that.I could see him persuading father.Finally you tried to persuade her to marry you in secret.'

/kənˈvɪns/

To make someone agree or believe that something is true

I am more than ever convinced of it now.'Now I must convince him and then I must kill him.You'll never convince her to stay beyond the thirty days."

Persuade often results in someone taking action or agreeing to do something as a result of feeling influenced.
Convince often results in the person coming to believe in something or accepting an idea as true.
If youre trying to make someone do something, youre more likely persuading them.
If youre trying to make someone change their mind, youre convincing them.
Persuade is often about action; convince is about belief.