Transfer, Transmit, Transport or Transit?

Hello and Welcome to Fransy Fancy English! Aren't these words messing with your head? Well, admit it, they are! I'm here to help, so let's get down to it!

TRANSFER SB/STH FROM A TO B (verb)      /trænsˈfɜː(r)/  

The person or thing isn't in its initial position (A) after the transfer.

TRANSFER (noun)      /ˈtrænsfɜː(r)/

Transfer is a noun and a verb. As a verb, it's when you move something or someone from a place to another. A transfer is the act of moving from a position to another. You can transfer data or files from your flash drive to your computer. Everyone is acquainted with the money transfer process these days.

You can instantly transfer money to other bank accounts. Employees and workers can be transferred to different offices, branches or companies. When you cook, you may need to transfer your mixture or salad to a bigger or smaller container.

"How can I transfer content and data to my new phone?" 

"If you want to transfer money from PayPal to your bank account, log in and then tap Transfer Money."

"He transferred his property to his son."

"I think you should transfer the ingredients to a bowl."

TRANSMIT STH FROM A … TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS (verb)

TRANSMISSION (noun)

To transmit is to send out and it can refer to non-physical situations. Information, signals, diseases, messages can be transmitted and anyone can receive or catch them. Satellites don't run out of signals and when you transmit a disease you still have it.

"This station will transmit the match live."

"Satellites transmit information back to the earth."

"Some mosquitos can transmit malaria."

"The disease is transmitted to humans through physical contact."

Transmission is when a radio or TV sends out signals, or when a disease passes from person to person. Be aware of your car transmission! It's what's moves the power from the engine to the wheels. 

"His car has automatic transmission."

"Broadband transmission can speed up access to the websites."

TRANSPORT A TO B (verb) /trænˈspɔːt/

TRANSPORTATION (noun) in AmE

TRANSPORT (noun) in BrE  /ˈtrænspɔːt/

When large quantities of products or many people move from one place to another we use the verb transport. This verb is used when goods or people move by means of a vehicle and it's clear that the transport/transportation includes physical items or people.

British people use the noun transport and Americans use the noun transportation to talk about the system of carrying passengers or goods. That's why we have road transport/transportation, public transport/transportation and means/modes of transport/transportation.

 

"Coffee is transported from Mexico."

"Walking is the easiest form of transport/transportation."

"We all need to use public transport more if we want to reduce our carbon footprint."

"All goods are transported by air."

TRANSIT (noun)

When something you ordered is in transit, it is being moved or carried from one place to another.

Transit is almost always used as a noun. There is also a popular model of van in Europe, the Ford Transit.

"My luggage was lost in transit."

Public transportation is called mass transit or mass transportation.

"This city has no mass transit."