While both "cancel" and "annul" mean to put a stop to something, there's a subtle difference in their usage. "Cancel" is generally used for events, plans, or appointments. It suggests a more informal stopping of something. "Annul", on the other hand, usually applies to something more formal and official, often involving legal or authoritative action. Think of it as a more permanent and decisive way of ending something.

Here are some example sentences to illustrate the difference:

• Cancel:

  • "I need to cancel my doctor's appointment." (Meaning: I'm going to stop my appointment.)
  • "The school canceled classes due to the snowstorm." (Meaning: The school officially stopped classes.)

• Annul:

  • "The court annulled their marriage." (Meaning: The court officially ended their marriage.)
  • "The contract was annulled due to fraud." (Meaning: The contract was officially declared invalid.)

Notice that "annul" often implies that something is being declared invalid or void from the start, unlike "cancel", which simply means stopping something that was previously planned or scheduled. You're unlikely to hear someone say they 'cancelled' a marriage, for instance.

Happy learning!