While both "increase" and "augment" suggest making something bigger or better, there are subtle differences. "Increase" is a more general and commonly used word, simply meaning to make something larger in size, amount, or degree. "Augment," on the other hand, implies improvement or enhancement, often suggesting the addition of something to make something else better. It's a more formal and less frequently used word.

Here are some example sentences to illustrate the difference:

• Increase: The company decided to increase its marketing budget. (The company decided to make its marketing budget larger.)

• Augment: He augmented his income by taking on a part-time job. (He improved his income by taking on a part-time job.)

• Increase: The number of students increased significantly this year. (The amount of students became much larger this year.)

• Augment: She augmented her presentation with compelling visuals. (She improved her presentation by adding compelling visuals.)

• Increase: The temperature increased rapidly. (The temperature became much higher quickly.)

• Augment: They augmented the security system with additional cameras. (They improved the security system by adding additional cameras.)

Notice that "increase" is often used with concrete things (budget, numbers, temperature), while "augment" can refer to more abstract things (income, presentation, security system). Although they are sometimes interchangeable, using "augment" adds a sophisticated touch to your writing.

Happy learning!