Remember vs remind
Remember means you bring something back into your own mind or keep it there. Remind means you make someone remember something.
You remind someone to do something. You remember something yourself. If someone makes another person remember, use remind.
remember verb
To bring something back into your own mind, or keep it there so you do not forget it.
- I still remember the smell of my grandmother's kitchen.
- Did you remember to lock the front door?
remind verb
To make someone remember something, or help them not forget it.
- Please remind me to call the dentist tomorrow.
- My mother reminded me to bring an umbrella.
Watch out
- Remember me to someone does not mean remind. It means please pass on my friendly greetings to that person.Remember me to your sister the next time you write to her.
- Some people use remind as a noun, as in drop me a remind. This use is nonstandard, so avoid it in careful writing.
Test yourself
Can you blank me to buy milk on the way home?
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remind. You want someone to make you remember, so use remind.
I can't blank where I parked the car.
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remember. The speaker is trying to bring something back into their own mind.
Please blank to turn off the lights when you leave.
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remember. The listener must keep the task in their own mind, so use remember.
Her teacher will blank her that the essay is due Monday.
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remind. The teacher makes another person, her, remember the date.