Use register for an official book or system that keeps formal entries, such as a school register or a land registry. It signals a formal, institutional context and should not be used for casual note‑taking.
Use register for an official book or system that keeps formal entries, such as a school register or a land registry. It signals a formal, institutional context and should not be used for casual note‑taking.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| I kept register of the meeting. | I kept the register of the meeting. |
| Please fill out the register for the conference. | Please fill out the registration form for the conference. |
| The registers are full of names. | The register is full of names. |
Use register to write information into an official list, such as registering for a class or registering a new employee. It is neutral in tone and does not imply the informal sign up sense.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She will register the class tomorrow. | She will register for the class tomorrow. |
| I need to register my name on the list. | I need to register my name on the list. |
| He registers the data quickly. | He records the data quickly. |
Use register for a small, fast storage location inside a CPU that holds data or instructions during execution. It is a technical term; avoid using it for general records or lists.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The register stores the program. | The register stores the program. |
| We need more registers to keep the data. | We need more registers to keep the data. |
| The register is slower than the cache. | The register is faster than the cache. |
Use register to describe a sensor or system detecting and recording a value, such as a thermometer registering temperature. It is a technical verb; do not confuse it with the administrative verb meaning to sign up.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The thermometer registers the temperature. | The thermometer registers the temperature. |
| We need to register the sensor reading. | We need to record the sensor reading. |
| The device registers quickly. | The device detects quickly. |
Use register to refer to the pitch range of a voice or instrument. It is a neutral musical term; avoid using it for administrative records.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She sang in a high register. | She sang in a high register. |
| The piano has three registers. | The piano has three registers. |
| His register is very low. | His register is very low. |
Use register for the cash‑handling device in a store, often called a till or point‑of‑sale terminal. It is a neutral business term; do not use it for the abstract noun sense.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The cashier opened the register. | The cashier opened the register. |
| She entered the sale into the register. | She entered the sale into the cash register. |
| The register printed the receipt. | The register printed the receipt. |
Use register to describe a person showing a reaction, such as a face registering surprise. It is neutral; avoid using it for administrative actions.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| His face registers surprise. | His face registers surprise. |
| She registered a smile. | She registered a smile. |
| The audience registers excitement. | The audience registers excitement. |
Use register according to its sense: the formal record book, the act of entering data, the CPU storage element, the measurement‑recording verb, the musical pitch range, the cash‑handling device, or the display of a reaction.
A frequent error is confusing the noun and verb forms, leading to sentences like I will register the register instead of the intended meaning.
What does register mean as a noun in an administrative context?
Register refers to an official record book or system that keeps formal entries of events, names, or other data.
How do I register for a class?
You register by entering your name into the official list or system that manages enrollment.
What is a register in a computer processor?
A register is a small, fast storage location inside the CPU that holds data or instructions during execution.
How does a sensor register temperature?
When a sensor registers temperature, it detects the value and records it for further use.
What does register refer to in music?
In music, register denotes the specific pitch range of a voice or instrument.
What is a cash register used for?
A cash register is a device in stores that records sales and handles cash transactions.
How can a face register surprise?
A face registers surprise when the expression visibly shows the reaction.