AEE 2489: Stick to or Stick With in English?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: All Ears English Episode 2489

Title: Stick to or Stick With in English?
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon (A) & Michelle Kaplan (B)
Release Date: October 2, 2025
Core Theme:
Exploring the nuanced differences and uses of the phrases “stick to” and “stick with” in American English, addressing listener questions and providing real-life usage examples, tips, and memorable language chunks.

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Main Theme and Purpose

This episode focuses on clarifying the difference between “stick to” and “stick with,” two commonly confused phrasal verbs in English. Through discussion, listener questions, and practical examples, Lindsay and Michelle seek to demystify when and how these phrases are used in natural conversation, helping listeners sound more confident and nuanced.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context for “Stick To”

• Rule, Routine, or Discipline:
  The hosts explain that “stick to” is most often used when referring to adhering to rules, routines, or set plans, highlighting discipline and commitment.
  • Example: “Let’s stick to the original plan.” (05:22)
  • Example: “I’ve been trying to stick to eating mostly vegetarian food.” (05:47)
  • Form: Often followed by a verb in the -ing form (e.g., “stick to practicing guitar every day”). (05:54)
• Physical Meaning:
  Michelle notes “stick to” is also used physically: “If something gets stuck to something else.” She references the movie Matilda and a hat stuck to a character’s head with glue. (06:06-06:42)

Quote (Michelle, 05:17):
“The idea is that we don’t veer away from something. We keep going with it.”

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2. Context for “Stick With”

• Choice, Dedication, Loyalty:
  “Stick with” implies commitment due to loyalty, personal choice, or preference, and is often used when talking about people or teams.
  • Example: “I really like my team so I think I’m going to stick with them and finish out this job…” (09:06)
  • Example: “Stick with me. I know how things work around here.” (09:15)
• Encouragement:
  Common in phrases of encouragement: “Stick with it!” (12:14)
• Not Interchangeable with People:
  The hosts clarify: “You would never say ‘I’ll stick to you;’ it would sound clingy or physically attached.” (10:02-10:18)

Quote (Michelle, 09:28):
“With is more about that loyalty… while stick to is more about being strict or show discipline.”

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3. Areas of Overlap & Subtle Distinctions

• Can Sometimes Interchange:
  The hosts acknowledge that many contexts allow either “stick to” or “stick with,” but the nuance depends on what you wish to emphasize—discipline versus loyalty. (11:06-11:41)
  • Example: “I’m going to stick to my routine.” vs. “I’m going to stick with my routine.”
• Encouragement vs. Rule:
  • “Stick with it” feels more supportive and gentle.
  • “Stick to” feels more authoritative or rule-based.

Quote (Michelle, 12:31):
“When you say stick with it, it almost sounds more encouraging. Whereas stick to something sounds more like you’re giving them the rule.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Lindsay (04:22):
“I would just encourage all of our listeners… If you have a question… send it to us at [e-mail]. We love to make these episodes about you. It’s not about us, it’s about you.”

Michelle (13:27):
“Stick with can be a little gentler… more encouraging, a little bit more loyal.”

Lindsay (14:15):
“You’re going to stick to a hobby. But again, I said in my example, stick with also works. You stick with your tennis or stick with your chess matches or something, right?”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Listener Question Introduced: 03:15
• Explaining “Stick To”: 05:07
• Physical Use – ‘Stick To’: 06:01-06:49
• Explaining “Stick With”: 08:43
• Discussion of Overlapping Usages: 10:51-12:55
• Roleplay Example (Dance Class): 14:05-14:46
  • “I have no idea how to do this. I should just stick to sports.”
  • “No, you can do it, Michelle. Stick with me. I’ll help you.”
• Key Takeaway and Experimentation Advice: 15:10-16:00

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Practical Tips and Recommendations

• Experiment and Observe:
  Write down examples of “stick to” and “stick with” as you hear them in real life or on TV, and consider whether they’re interchangeable. (15:10)
• Remember:
  • Use “stick to” for rules, discipline, or routines.
  • Use “stick with” for people, loyalty, gentle encouragement, or sticking with something/someone by choice.
• Start with Basics, Build Naturally:
  Learn the core differences, then try them out with small talk and in writing for greater fluency.

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Episode Flow and Tone

The conversation is warm, humorous, and accessible, with both Lindsay and Michelle sharing personal anecdotes and gently teasing out nuances. They emphasize that even native speakers may feel overlap, encouraging curiosity and ongoing learning.
The episode closes by encouraging listeners to seek out more usage in real-world situations and to continue bringing in their questions.

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Additional Resources

• Suggested Listening: Episode on “To what do you attribute your English success?” (15:28)

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Summary Takeaway:
While “stick to” and “stick with” can often be used interchangeably, “stick to” leans toward discipline and rules, while “stick with” emphasizes loyalty, personal choice, and encouragement—especially with people. Practice, listen, and experiment for the best mastery of these subtle English distinctions.

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Transcript

[A]

This is an All Ears English podcast. Episode 2489 Stick to or stick with in English. Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American hosts and Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl, coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the All Ears English app for iOS and Android. Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward slapp.

[B]

Do you ever wonder whether you should say stick to or stick with in English? Today we answer a listener question about the difference. Listen in today.

[A]

Do you often end up in situations where you know exactly what you want to say, but you don't have the English vocabulary words that you need in that moment?

[B]

You.

[A]

To succeed in English, you need nuanced English vocabulary. But first you need to know your English level. Take our free English level quiz to find out if you are B1, B2 or C1. Go to allearsenglish.com fluency score. That's allearsenglish.com F L U E N C Y S C O R E. Hey there, Michelle. How's it going today? How you feeling?

[B]

It's. Yeah, I'm feeling well, Lindsay. How are you?

[A]

Excellent. Excellent. Michelle, I have a question. You ready?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So do you think that it's good to learn new things or do you think it's best to just stick to your strengths? Like, stick to what you do really well?

[B]

Yeah, it's a complicated question. I mean, I know with our team we've done strengths finders, right?

[A]

Yes, yes.

[B]

So it's good to stick to your strengths, I think, overall. I mean, maybe not in every situation. Professionally, I think it's good to stick to your strengths, but I also think it's good to be open to learning new things. Yeah, I just, I just recently saw, I forget where I saw it, but it said with a child, you know, people always want to say, okay, if you, if your child isn't doing well in math, but they're doing well in another subject, people get freaked out about them doing math when they, if they, when they really should just say, okay, let's focus on the strength. But in school, it's a little bit different because you have to get all those good grades, right?

[A]

Yeah. That kind of sounds like the, you know, the philosophy of the strengths finders. Profile the assessments that we did as a team. Yeah, that's the philosophy. If you're good at something, elevate that and don't worry about everything else. But in school you do need like a basic, well rounded education. Right?

[B]

Right.

[A]

So that's a tough one. That's really interesting. We have a question from our wonderful listener, Sophia. That was inspiring. Today's episod. Yeah.

[B]

Yes. This is a great question. This is from YouTube and she says, hi, I'm Sophia. We. We love you, Sophia. Really? It says. I came across the phrases stick with and stick to while reading an article and I'm a little unsure about the differences between them. I looked them up and found some explanations, but I still don't really get how to use them naturally. Would you mind helping me understand the difference or giving a few examples? Thanks for always helping me figure things out when I get confused with Eng. It's been super helpful and I really appreciate it. I love you guys and hope everything is going well. Well, we really love you, Sophia. Seriously. You always have wonderful questions and we are thrilled to be here to help you. And, and your questions are relevant for yourself. But also, I mean, I can only imagine how many questions you've asked that have helped the broader all ears English community. Right.

[A]

So I would just encourage all of our listeners. Guys, if you have a question that you're sitting on you, you're wondering what the answer is or you observe something in the English language, maybe on TV, send it to us at support allers english.com we love to make these episodes about you. It's not about us, it's about you. So tell us what you want to learn. Right, Michelle?

[B]

Yes, exactly. So guys, and make sure you hit follow wherever you are listening to the Allers English podcast. So you never miss anything, especially if you ask a question you want to see if we answer and make sure you don't miss it.

[A]

Of course. And of course we're also on YouTube. That's where Sophia is consuming this show. So hit subscribe if you're over there. Okay, Michelle, let's break this down for our listeners once and for all. This might be. It's a great question, frankly.

[B]

It is, it is. This is a tricky one. This is really good. So let's, let's just start with stick two. So what is stick to?

[A]

Okay, the idea is that we don't veer away from something. We keep going with it. Okay. For example, you have a plan. Let's stick to the original plan. We know this is what works and we shouldn't change it.

[B]

Right. Okay. So you're keeping on going with it. You're keeping. You're staying the course. Right. Or you could say, here's another example. I've been trying to stick to eating mostly vegetarian food. Mostly vegetarian, yes.

[A]

Or if you stick to practicing. So that's interesting for our listeners. Stick to a verb plus ing activity.

[B]

Right.

[A]

If you stick to practicing guitar every day, you'll be able to perform at the Christmas concert, right?

[B]

Yes, exactly. So it's the idea of staying with a routine, an idea more about rules. Now, also there. I mean, I didn't have this written down, but there's also. If something gets stuck to something else. Right. I just watched physically. Like physically. Okay, right, exactly. I mean, Lindsay, have you seen the movie Matilda?

[A]

Yeah, I think. I think so. Yeah.

[B]

I just happened to just decide, you know, my son wanted to watch a movie, and so we decided to show him Matilda. And there's this part where Danny DeVito, she. She puts glue on his hat because, I mean, he's a terrible person and he puts on this super glue and then his hat gets stuck to his head. So.

[A]

Yeah, right.

[B]

So he's a. To stick to something. Right. Is also. You can get physically stuck to something. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

And then I think the British have a phrase like to get stuck, stuck in. To get into something. But I don't even. We're not getting into that today. There's a lot of variations of this. But today we'll just. Yeah, we'll stick with. Oh, we'll stick with. Hopefully that follows our. Our rule today, Michelle. We will stick with stick to and stick with. So let's go. Let's take a quick break. So just. Just to summarize, Stick to is about a routine, an idea. It's about the rules. Right, Michelle? Yes.

[B]

Okay. That's right.

[A]

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[B]

I mean, I do. I do think they can be interchangeable. So there was a lot of nuance here and sometimes it's okay to use either one.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But trying to find some of the differences also. Yeah. To keep doing something also. But it's could be more about choosing something, being dedicated to something or loyal. Right. So for example, I really like my team so I think I'm going to stick with them and fit finish out this job before I consider something else.

[A]

Okay. So. Okay. So continuing to do something, choosing something. Again, very similar. Here's another example. Stick with me. I know how things work around here. And that's kind of just a saying, a phrase. You might hear it in a movie. Right? Stick with me.

[B]

Yes. Right.

[A]

Yeah, that kind of thing.

[B]

Right, right. And some, some research that I did when planning this episode shows that with is more about that loyalty is the word that was used while stick 2 is more about being strict or show discipline in some way.

[A]

Yeah, I could see that. I could totally see that. Let's look at a few more examples and see if we can find the, the commonalities and the differences here.

[B]

Right. Okay, so here we go. I'll stick with you. You have never steered me wrong.

[A]

Okay, so that's definitely loyalty.

[B]

Right?

[A]

Right.

[B]

You wouldn't say I'll stick to you.

[A]

No.

[B]

Right.

[A]

See that's. Yeah. You would never say that with a person.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And that's where the loyalty piece comes in. You're a unit with that person. You're staying together. Stick with me. I can get you into some amazing concerts for free. And again, you would never say stick to me.

[B]

Yeah, it would sound very. I mean that would sound clingy, even like you're being physically attached. Stick to me. I mean, maybe if you were at a crowded concert and you're saying the whole put your hand on my shoulder, stick to me. We can't get separated. Right.

[A]

But maybe, maybe you would say that. But I think just this, when you're less common imagining staying with a person in a pursuit of something or they're taking care of you or something. It's loyalty. It's a.

[B]

With.

[A]

With the person. Right, right.

[B]

So let's do a couple with stick. 2. So stick to the basics. That's the most interesting. Okay, so again, this is more, you know, maybe showing some discipline in some way, but could you say stick with the basics?

[A]

Yeah, unfortunately, yes.

[B]

Right, so. Or I'll stick to my language learning app and see how that goes before I book my flight. Okay. Again, you could stay. Say stick with. I think it's really about what you want to emphasize. Right. I think stick to still kind of goes with this. More of this discipline.

[A]

Yeah, I agree with that.

[B]

I'm gonna stick. I'm gonna stick to my routine. I am gonna stick. Stick to working out every day for a month. Right?

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Whereas I think sticking with something is more of that dedication piece, that loyalty piece.

[A]

Stick with something or. Or a person again. Right.

[B]

Or a person.

[A]

You know, for example, I know some parents of people that I know, they, if as a kid, if they chose an activity like an after school activity or a sport, they weren't allowed to quit it. They had to stick with it. Okay, I'm using with throughout the entire semester, they weren't allowed to quit after like a few practices if they didn't like it. So.

[B]

Right, right. You might hear someone say, stick with it, stick with it.

[A]

ST is a chunk. Right, Michelle? Stick with it alone works as a chunk. But they had to stick to. You could also say they had to stick to. What would you say they had to stick to their tennis practice or.

[B]

Yeah, it's really. I think when you say stick with it, it almost sounds more encouraging. Whereas stick to something sounds more like you're giving them the rule. So, for example, please stick to reading every day during the summer so you don't lose your skills.

[A]

Whereas there's like something like rule based here.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Routines, rules, discipline, that sort of thing with the.

[B]

But if you say something like, oh, if you stick with reading every day, you are gonna be amazing by the time it's time to go back to school. It sounds. Yeah, yeah. It's a. This is tricky. I mean, we wanted to dive into this. There's not necessarily like, there's definitely some overlap, but I think, you know, if you think of stick to is more. That's. It can be more physical. Right? Number one.

[A]

Physical. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Showing discipline. Maybe more rule based. Stick with. Can be a little gentler, a little more. Stick with me. I. I got this. And it's just a little More encouraging, a little bit more loyal.

[A]

But yeah, definitely, when you're talking about a person, you're gonna stick with a person.

[B]

Right.

[A]

You're not going to stick to a person again, like we said earlier, but there are a lot of situations where we can have overlap.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So I think we kind of summed up the basic difference. So let's go into a role play now, Michelle, and break it down. You ready?

[B]

Yeah. Here we are. So we're just gonna do a quick role play. So here we are at a dance class. Okay.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

I have no idea how to do this. I should just stick to sports.

[A]

No, you can do it, Michelle. Stick with me. I'll help you.

[B]

Thanks.

[A]

Yeah. So this just shows the two basic differences that we highlighted. You're gonna stick to a hobby. But again, I said in my example, stick with. Also works. You stick with your tennis or stick with your get chess matches or something, right? Yeah. And then stick with me is what you said. And you would always say stick with me. So it feels like that's kind of the one definitive thing we can say. When someone said, you know, you're coming together with a person, you're gonna stay with that person. And in some context it would be with.

[B]

Right? Yeah, right. I think there are a lot of chunks like, you know, stick with me, stick with it. So I know that this. I don't want you guys to leave here more confused, but even to native speakers, I think it's kind of just one of those things where there's probably some nuance to it, but in many ways you can just use them, you know, overlapping as well.

[A]

And I think the key for our listeners now is to go and discover the differences even more by listening and writing down every time you hear stick to or stick with, and then think to yourself, could you interchange them in that case or not?

[B]

Okay. Yes.

[A]

Yes. I love that. Michelle, what's another episode our listeners could check out?

[B]

Guys, check out episode allers English. To what do you attribute your English success?

[A]

Nice. Any final thoughts here, Michelle, for a takeaway?

[B]

Yeah, this was a great question. I mean, this is not one of those where there's just like a cut and dry ABC and that's it. Right. But if you can remember some of the basics that we talked about today and start with those, start experimenting with a little bit, you know, throw one in here or there, then you should be good.

[A]

Yes, I love it. Good stuff today, Michelle. Guys, hit the follow button if you love all ears English and I'll see you next time. All right.

[B]

All right. Bye, guys.

[A]

All right, take care. Bye.

[B]

Foreign.

[A]

Thanks for listening. To all ears. English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluency score. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time. Limu Emu and Doug.

[C]

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