Vastny Languages editorial team
Delete, remove, erase, and clear: what's the difference?
Delete is common for removing digital items. Remove means take something away more generally. Erase often means rub out marks or wipe data; clear often means empty a space, field or list.
Delete is common for removing digital items. Remove means take something away more generally. Erase often means rub out marks or wipe data; clear often means empty a space, field or list.
Which word fits here?
Use delete for a file, message or database record. Deletion does not always guarantee permanent destruction.
Use remove for taking something away from a place, list or system; it may still exist elsewhere.
Use erase for rubbing out pencil marks or wiping recorded data.
Use clear for emptying a field, list or cache, or removing what blocks a space.
How to choose a word
Use delete for a file, message or database record. Deletion does not always guarantee permanent destruction.
Use remove for taking something away from a place, list or system; it may still exist elsewhere.
Use erase for rubbing out pencil marks or wiping recorded data.
Use clear for emptying a field, list or cache, or removing what blocks a space.
Word by word
delete
Use delete for a file, message or database record. Deletion does not always guarantee permanent destruction.
I accidentally deleted the wrong file.
Please delete this message after you read it.
remove
Use remove for taking something away from a place, list or system; it may still exist elsewhere.
Remove your shoes before you come in.
They removed my name from the list.
erase
Use erase for rubbing out pencil marks or wiping recorded data.
Can you erase the whiteboard before the next class?
The technician erased all data from the hard drive.
clear
Use clear for emptying a field, list or cache, or removing what blocks a space.
Clear the cache and restart the browser.
Please clear the table after dinner.
