While both "marry" and "wed" mean to enter into a marriage, there are subtle differences in their usage and connotations. "Marry" is the more common and versatile verb. It can be used in various contexts and focuses on the act of getting married. "Wed," on the other hand, is a more formal and literary word, often used to create a more elegant or poetic tone. It emphasizes the state of being married or the ceremony itself. Think of "wed" as a slightly more sophisticated cousin of "marry."

Here are some example sentences to illustrate the difference:

• Marry:

  • "She's going to marry her college sweetheart." (Meaning: She is going to get married to her college sweetheart.)
  • "They decided to marry young." (Meaning: They decided to get married at a young age.)

• Wed:

  • "The couple will wed in a beautiful church." (Meaning: The couple will get married in a beautiful church.)
  • "They were wed last summer." (Meaning: They got married last summer.)

Notice how "wed" can sound more formal and often describes the event or the state of being married, whereas "marry" focuses more on the act of getting married to someone.

Another difference lies in their grammatical patterns. "Marry" typically takes a direct object (the person one marries). For example: "John married Mary." "Wed", however, can be used with or without a direct object. You can say, "John wed Mary," or "John was wed." The latter emphasizes that the wedding ceremony happened to John.

Remember these nuances, and you'll be well on your way to mastering the subtle differences between these two synonyms! Happy learning!