act as vs be

Both "act as" and "be" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Act as" is used when someone or something is performing a role or function temporarily, while "be" is used to describe a permanent state or identity.

Last updated: March 20, 2024 • 877 views

The phrase "act as" is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that someone or something is performing a role or function temporarily.

"act as"

Use "act as" when describing how someone or something is temporarily fulfilling a particular role or function.

Examples:

She will act as the team leader while he is away.
The substitute teacher will act as the class supervisor for the day.

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Synthetic dyes can also act as ligands for proteins.
Autoantibodies can act as markers for different autoimmune diseases.
Phenazine methosulphate can act as acceptor.
Her own heart could act as a natural motor.
D.H.S. sent me down here to act as a liaison.
I'm not going to act as a postman between you both.
Servers act as a central repository for host configuration information.
Composite app development involves numerous dependencies that act as constraints.
And what these cognitive biases do is they act as filters between us and reality.
I'd like to act as an intermediary to resolve this issue without further bloodshed.
On a night like tonight, he should act as a third footman.
The reintroduction of CO2 could act as a catalyst.
Water will act as a conductor, allowing me to enter your mind.
Compounds that act as natural antifreeze.
Rhythmic flashes like this could act as a neural trigger.
It was funny watching you act as brothers.
These act as guides to lead players towards their objective.
Nucleotides also act as coenzymes in metabolic-group-transfer reactions.
There the dead could act as protective ancestors.
Universities act as a method of reducing inter-generational conflict.

Alternatives:

serve as
function as
fulfill the role of
play the part of
take on the role of

The word "be" is correct and commonly used in English to describe a permanent state or identity.

"be"

Use "be" when describing a permanent state, identity, or characteristic of someone or something.

Examples:

She is a doctor.
The sky is blue.

Show examples from the web [+]

The criteria to be respected should therefore be specifically mentioned.
Courage can be manifested and be possible in different situations.
Destroying his imagination would be... be devastating.
Animals CAN be raised naturally and still be economically sustainable.
Please also note should the deposit not be received the booking will be considered to be cancelled.
The baby will be crying everyday, and... it would be good for you not to be disturbed.
An exception could theoretically be made whereby already existing loans and guarantees could continue to be covered by the Fund whereas new operations would of be excluded.
Pre-consents for F-gases reclamation would be granted to individual recovery sites, would be limited in time and could be revoked by competent authorities at any time.
As I suspect it might be compromising for you to be found with a phone, I'll be brief.
From this tentative kinetic constants may be calculated and the conditions under which the test chemical can be treated may be predicted.
It shall be established at a date to be fixed by the Member may be reviewed annually.
Competent authorities should also not be required to publish measures which are deemed to be of a minor nature and the publication of which would be disproportionate.
Submission of a duly completed declaration of interests shall be necessary in order for an expert to be eligible to be appointed as a member of the panel.
Objectives which can be checked by means of measurable indicators shall be set and achievement of these objectives shall be monitored.
It'd be so awesome to be there and be a part of the process, making laws.
This could well be a useful Pimenta worries that this might be a delaying tactic and in many ways the work needs to be done beforehand by high level officials.
Could be volcanoes, which we don't know to be active on Mars, so that would be interesting.
Previously observed prices shall not be regarded as estimated prices unless they can be shown to be appropriate estimates.
Some of the contributing factors can be expected to be temporary but others are likely to be more lasting.
Other pathogens may be added in the future, if measures in animal populations can be shown to be efficient in reducing human cases.

Alternatives:

exist as
remain
stay
live as
function as

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act as vs be

"act as"

"be"

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