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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 • 731 views

act as

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

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.
  • 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

be

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

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

Examples:

  • She is a doctor.
  • The sky is blue.
  • 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

Related Comparisons

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