Commonly confused verbs: join and attend

Have you ever wondered whether you should say “join a meeting” or “attend a meeting”?

If so, you’re not alone. These two verbs often confuse IELTS candidates — but they carry slightly different meanings. Knowing when (and how) to use each can make your writing and speaking sound more natural, more precise, and definitely more Band 7+.

In this post, we’ll break down join and attend – including their collocations, common mistakes, grammar tips, and how to use them correctly in both offline and online situations.

So, What’s the Real Difference?

⇨ Join

To join something means you become part of it. It’s about starting or entering a group, event, or activity.

Think of it like this:

  • You join a club.
  • You join a meeting when it starts (especially online).
  • You join a conversation.
  • You join a team or a company.

It’s more about the beginning or becoming a part of something.

Examples:

  • I joined the Zoom class five minutes late.
  • She joined the photography club last week.
  • Why don’t you join us for dinner?

⇨ Attend

To attend something means you go to it and take part in it. It’s about being present, usually at a formal event.

You don’t “join” a wedding or a university—you attend it.

You attend:

  • a class
  • a wedding
  • a meeting
  • a university
  • a ceremony

Examples:

  • I attended a workshop on essay writing last weekend.
  • He attends university three days a week.
  • Only invited guests can attend the event.

📝 IELTS tip: “Attend” sounds more formal, which makes it perfect for Writing Task 2 or Task 1 (formal letter).

What About Online Classes and Meetings?

Good question. Here’s a simple trick:

  • When you click the link and enter → you join the session.
  • When you stay for the whole thing and participate → you attend the session.

Both are correct depending on context.

Examples:

  • After registering, you’ll receive a link to join the webinar.
  • I attended an IELTS grammar workshop online yesterday.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here’s what NOT to do:

❌ She joined to the webinar.
✅ She joined the webinar.

❌ He attended on the event.
✅ He attended the event.

Both join and attend are transitive verbs. That means:
They take a direct object, no prepositions needed.

Quick Tip to Remember:

| If you’re starting or becoming a member, use → | join |
| If you’re being present at an event, use → | attend |

What About Informal Speech?

In casual conversation, native speakers often say “go to” instead of “attend”:

  • I went to a workshop.
  • I went to my cousin’s wedding.

That’s totally fine for IELTS Speaking.

But in Writing? Stick to the more academic “attend”.

Honestly, this is one of those small but powerful differences that can level up your IELTS score—especially in writing. Knowing when to use “join” vs “attend” shows the examiner you’re in control of vocabulary and register.

So next time you’re writing your IELTS essay or letter, ask yourself:

Am I becoming part of something? (→ join)
Or am I going and taking part in it? (→ attend)

That’s it! No more mix-ups. You’ve got this.