have to vs must

Both 'have to' and 'must' are correct ways to express obligation in English. 'Have to' is more commonly used in everyday language, while 'must' is often used in formal or written contexts. The choice between them depends on the level of formality you want to convey.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 1099 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express obligation.

"have to"

Use 'have to' to express obligation in everyday language. It is less formal than 'must' and is commonly used in both spoken and written English.

Examples:

I have to finish my homework before I can go out.
She has to wake up early for work every day.
We have to be at the airport by 3 p.m.
Do we have to wear a uniform for the event?
You don't have to worry about it.

Show examples from the web [+]

But our kidnappers have to sleep somewhere.
We have to evaluate the conference.
We have to go see her.
You just have to press here.
We have to compartmentalize our lives.
We have to assume dubaku is initiating another attack.
They have to denounce the police...
We have to start evacuating now.
We have to retract Genoa tonight.
Then we have to accept our policymaking responsibilities.
In this process we have to prevent gender-based discriminatory practices.
We have to save their personal integrity.
We Germans have to stick together abroad.
And then we have to go upstairs, we have to go outside, we have to cross Lexington, we have to go back downstairs and then we'll find Jane.
Even funeral directors have to beware of transference.
He'd have to reach Sam.
We have to think about children.
No other women have to suffer.
Might have to amputate that ankle.
FBI agents have to live somewhere.

Alternatives:

need to
should
ought to
be required to
be supposed to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express obligation, especially in formal or written contexts.

"must"

Use 'must' to express strong obligation or necessity, especially in formal or written contexts. It is more formal than 'have to' and is often used in rules, regulations, or official instructions.

Examples:

All passengers must fasten their seat belts during takeoff and landing.
Students must submit their assignments by the deadline.
You must follow the safety guidelines at all times.
Employees must attend the training session tomorrow.
Visitors must sign in at the reception desk.

Show examples from the web [+]

The message for this age must satisfy its primary needs, hence must contain three elements.
Brazil must not become a safe haven for convicted criminals and the EU must never allow murderers to escape punishment.
All the games must must implement the highscore system.
You must not break our circle of friendship.
You therefore must, I say must mount this seat.
Everybody must rejoice in mercy, nobody must get sad.
This hostile attitude must change: politicians must protect press freedom, not bury it.
Service providers must accept commercial risks and public authorities must not carry out economic assessments.
The solutions which we must arrive at must fulfil a twofold role.
The basic principle absolutely must always be that agreements entered into must not endanger the health of consumers or animals.
So we must respect this principle of subsidiarity and it must also extend to regional level.
Our governments must stop this and we must stop them supporting it.
We must also therefore consider what measures the European Union must put into practice.
We must strengthen consumer rights and enterprises must take responsibility for their products.
It must not be forgotten that security and the fight against terrorism must never push aside protection of individual privacy.
The latter must not be duplicated, however, and we must also avoid any increase in bureaucracy.
The evangelised must become missionaries, they in turn must evangelise.
Education must continue and life must work again.
The eggs must absorb oil and the sauce must become creamy.
We must help end-users understand the practices they must implement.

Alternatives:

have to
need to
should
ought to
be required to

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have to vs must

"have to"

"must"

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