Power station generates electricity
Power station generates electricity

Produce, Create and Generate: the differences

The English language verbs Produce, Create and Generate have related meanings, but they are different, as I shall explain, using British English examples. All three verbs are used to describe making something.

Produce is used to emphasise the the process of forming the end product. The method and rate of production is being highlighted. You produce something by consuming raw materials or some other input and then transforming it to make the end product. Something that is produced is provided to a user, customer, market or similar.
"This school produces really talented students."
"The farm produces more wheat than it did five years ago."
"The factory produces high quality auto parts."

Create is used to describe making a single object or result. It emphasises the end result rather than the process of making it. Create is normally used in situations where creativity or artistry is required to make the result.
"We have created the greatest bridge in all the world."
"Can you please create something really special for my mother's birthday?"
"I think he wanted to create chaos to break the company."

Also, think about learning the word recreate which means to create a copy of something.
"I would love to recreate that dress, but in velvet this time."
"Next Olympics we want to recreate that level of success."

Generate is used when the thing being made is measured in a continuous quantity, not a single object or a countable number of objects. For example you can generate power (not countable, not a single object) but you can't generate a set of knives (countable objects). Note, you can't generate love or peace - you have to make peace.
"The power station generates lots of electricity."
"Our department generates the most profit for the company."
"I've generated more success for this business than any of you."
"The fire generates a lot of heat."

Please email me with any questions martha@ukentry.com