Converse vs. Convey — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 5, 2024
Converse involves engaging in spoken or written communication, while convey means to transmit or make ideas known through various methods.
Difference Between Converse and Convey
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Converse is primarily about the exchange of thoughts and information between two or more people through dialogue. On the other hand, convey entails the act of transmitting messages or information, which can be through words, gestures, or other mediums.
While conversing usually requires the active participation of all involved parties, conveying information can be a one-sided action where the recipient does not necessarily respond.
Conversations are inherently interactive and dynamic, with the flow of communication going back and forth. Conveying, however, often focuses on the clarity and effectiveness of the message being transmitted, regardless of interaction.
Conversations can spontaneously change direction based on participants' reactions and inputs, whereas conveying a message typically follows a predefined path to ensure the intended understanding.
Conveyance might involve using symbols, signs, or behaviors to impart knowledge or feelings, extending beyond verbal exchanges that characterize conversation.
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Effective conversation requires skills like listening and adapting to feedback, whereas effective conveying is more about precision and the ability to impact the receiver’s understanding or behavior.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Engage in spoken or written dialogue.
Transmit information or feelings.
Interaction Required
Yes, mutual interaction.
No, can be one-sided.
Mediums
Primarily verbal and written.
Verbal, written, non-verbal, symbolic.
Focus
Exchange of ideas dynamically.
Clarity and accuracy of the message.
Skill Set
Listening, responding, adapting.
Precision, clarity, effectiveness.
Compare with Definitions
Converse
Engage in conversation.
They would often converse about their plans for the future.
Convey
Express emotions non-verbally.
Her smile conveyed more joy than words could.
Converse
Exchange ideas verbally.
The diplomats convened to converse on the new policy.
Convey
Carry or transport.
The conveyor belt was used to convey goods across the factory.
Converse
Communicate through written words.
They continued to converse through letters for years.
Convey
Send a message indirectly.
His choice of words conveyed a subtle warning.
Converse
Dialogue in a formal setting.
The committee met monthly to converse on ongoing issues.
Convey
Transmit information.
The teacher conveyed the concepts clearly to the students.
Converse
Casual interaction through speech.
They liked to converse over coffee each morning.
Convey
Communicate formally.
The ambassador conveyed the message from his government.
Converse
To engage in an exchange of thoughts and feelings by means of speech or sign language.
Convey
To take or carry from one place to another; transport.
Converse
(Archaic) To interact socially with others; associate.
Convey
To serve as a medium of transmission for; transmit
Wires that convey electricity.
Converse
An interchange of thoughts and feelings by means of speech or sign language; conversation.
Convey
To communicate or make known; impart
"a look intended to convey sympathetic comprehension" (Saki).
Converse
Social interaction.
Convey
(Law) To transfer ownership of or title to.
Converse
Something that has been reversed; an opposite.
Convey
(Archaic) To steal.
Converse
(Logic) A proposition obtained by conversion.
Convey
To move (something) from one place to another.
Air conveys sound. Water is conveyed through the pipe.
Converse
Reversed, as in position, order, or action; contrary.
Convey
(dated) To take or carry (someone) from one place to another.
Converse
To talk; to engage in conversation.
Convey
To communicate; to make known; to portray.
To convey an impression; to convey information
Converse
(followed by with) To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune.
Convey
(legal) To transfer legal rights (to).
He conveyed ownership of the company to his daughter.
Converse
(obsolete) To have knowledge of (a thing), from long intercourse or study.
Convey
(obsolete) To manage with privacy; to carry out.
Converse
Free verbal interchange of thoughts or views; conversation; chat.
Convey
(obsolete) To carry or take away secretly; to steal; to thieve.
Converse
The opposite or reverse.
Convey
To carry from one place to another; to bear or transport.
I will convey them by sea in floats.
Convey me to my bed, then to my grave.
Converse
(logic) Of a proposition or theorem of the form: given that "If A is true, then B is true", then "If B is true, then A is true.".
All trees are plants, but the converse, that all plants are trees, is not true.
Convey
To cause to pass from one place or person to another; to serve as a medium in carrying (anything) from one place or person to another; to transmit; as, air conveys sound; words convey ideas.
Converse
(semantics) One of a pair of terms that name or describe a relationship from opposite perspectives; converse antonym; relational antonym.
Convey
To transfer or deliver to another; to make over, as property; more strictly (Law), to transfer (real estate) or pass (a title to real estate) by a sealed writing.
The Earl of Desmond . . . secretly conveyed all his lands to feoffees in trust.
Converse
Opposite; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal
A converse proposition
Convey
To impart or communicate; as, to convey an impression; to convey information.
Men fill one another's heads with noise and sound, but convey not thereby their thoughts.
Converse
To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune; - followed by with.
To seek the distant hills, and there converseWith nature.
Conversing with the world, we use the world's fashions.
But to converse with heaven -This is not easy.
Convey
To manage with privacy; to carry out.
I . . . will convey the business as I shall find means.
Converse
To engage in familiar colloquy; to interchange thoughts and opinions in a free, informal manner; to chat; - followed by with before a person; by on, about, concerning, etc., before a thing.
CompanionsThat do converse and waste the time together.
We had conversed so often on that subject.
Convey
To carry or take away secretly; to steal; to thieve.
Converse
To have knowledge of, from long intercourse or study; - said of things.
According as the objects they converse with afford greater or less variety.
Convey
To accompany; to convoy.
Converse
Frequent intercourse; familiar communion; intimate association.
"T is but to holdConverse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unrolled.
Convey
To play the thief; to steal.
But as I am Crack, I will convey, crossbite, and cheat upon Simplicius.
Converse
Familiar discourse; free interchange of thoughts or views; conversation; chat.
Formed by thy converse happily to steerFrom grave to gay, from lively to severe.
Convey
Make known; pass on, of information
Converse
A proposition which arises from interchanging the terms of another, as by putting the predicate for the subject, and the subject for the predicate; as, no virtue is vice, no vice is virtue.
Convey
Serve as a means for expressing something;
The painting of Mary carries motherly love
His voice carried a lot af anger
Converse
A proposition in which, after a conclusion from something supposed has been drawn, the order is inverted, making the conclusion the supposition or premises, what was first supposed becoming now the conclusion or inference. Thus, if two sides of a sides of a triangle are equal, the angles opposite the sides are equal; and the converse is true, i.e., if these angles are equal, the two sides are equal.
Convey
Transfer to another;
Communicate a disease
Converse
Turned about; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal; as, a converse proposition.
Convey
Transmit a title or property
Converse
A proposition obtained by conversion
Convey
Transmit or serve as the medium for transmission;
Sound carries well over water
The airwaves carry the sound
Many metals conduct heat
Converse
Carry on a conversation
Convey
Take something or somebody with oneself somewhere;
Bring me the box from the other room
Take these letters to the boss
This brings me to the main point
Converse
Of words so related that one reverses the relation denoted by the other;
`parental' and `filial' are converse terms
Convey
Go or come after and bring or take back;
Get me those books over there, please
Could you bring the wine?
The dog fetched the hat
Converse
Turned about in order or relation;
Transposed letters
Common Curiosities
What skills enhance effective conversation?
Listening, empathy, and adaptability enhance conversations.
How can one improve their conveying skills?
By focusing on clarity, precision, and understanding the audience.
Can animals converse?
Animals communicate but don't converse in the human sense of engaging in dialogue.
What are examples of conveying through behavior?
Facial expressions and body language can convey feelings and intentions.
Is conversing limited to two people?
No, conversing can involve two or more people.
Can silence convey a message?
Yes, silence can be a powerful tool to convey disapproval or contemplation.
Can conveying include non-verbal methods?
Yes, conveying can utilize non-verbal means like gestures or symbols.
What is the primary purpose of conversing?
To exchange thoughts and ideas interactively.
Does technology impact how we converse and convey?
Technology expands the mediums through which we converse and convey, like digital communication.
How do cultural differences affect conversing and conveying?
Cultural nuances can influence the style, formality, and interpretation in both conversing and conveying.
Are there professions focused primarily on conveying?
Yes, professions like public relations, marketing, and teaching focus on conveying information effectively.
Is conveying always intentional?
Yes, conveying is typically a deliberate act of communication.
Is empathy more important in conversing or conveying?
Empathy is crucial in both, but it plays a more active role in conversing due to its interactive nature.
How do physical barriers affect conversing and conveying?
Physical barriers can impede both, requiring alternative methods or technologies to bridge communication gaps.
What is the difference in preparation between conversing and conveying?
Conveying often requires more preparation to ensure message clarity, while conversing can be more spontaneous.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
