Confusion between 'Remember' & 'Recall'

[vinu123]

Hello there,

As far as I know 'Remember' & 'Recall' are used in different situations. To be more specific, following two examples will shed some light on it.

1) I don't remember where I was last night
2) Me: "I can't seem to recall where I was last night"

I watch a lot of American movies & I have seen this a lot of times where they guy says "Dude, you gotta remember that phone number, it's really important. You will get us fired otherwise".

So, in this scene, person who's speaking is requesting the other to recall the phone to save their jobs.

Should he not have used "Recall" instead?

Hope the examples help you help me

Regards,
vinod,
Mumbai, India.

 

[zainab shah]

Hi!Vinu123
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 y;-)u.

 

[vinu123]

To me,

'recall' means

'Trying to bring forgotten memory back' or something like that

&
'Remember' means

'Trying not to forget, what you know'

How could there be more than one explanation?

 

[vinu123]

Hi!Vinu123
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 y;-)u.

With all due respect, I am just saying out loud what I think.

I do however, appreciate you helping me zainab :up:

 

[Raymott]

I can't think of any situation where you'd have to say 'recall'.
If in doubt use 'remember' - it's always right.

Obviously "recall" can't be used for laying down memories, as in "I want you to recall this phone number."