Which to use
“retains” is a verb and “returns” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #12,314
- “retains” frequency rank
- #2,497
- “returns” frequency rank
- 14811
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | retains | returns |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | third-person singular simple present indicative of retain | plural of return |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set retains and returns apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: retains is /ɹɪˈteɪnz/ while returns is /ɹɪˈtɜːnz/. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 14811, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
retains is recorded at frequency rank #12,314, classified as averb, pronounced /ɹɪˈteɪnz/. returns is at rank #2,497, tagged as anoun, pronounced /ɹɪˈtɜːnz/.
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 14811, this pair ranks #467,807 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of retains vs returns
Shared letters: enrst. Private to "retains": ai. Private to "returns": u.
"retains" · 7 letters · shape CVCVVCC · "returns" · 7 letters · shape CVCVCCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "retains" and "returns" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "retains" or "returns"?
Remembering retains vs returns
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “retains”; for a noun, it's “returns”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “retains” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable