"Convince" vs "persuade" - what's the difference?

• "She convinced me that I was wrong." (changed my mind)
• "I'm convinced this is the right approach." (belief)

• "She persuaded me to apply for the job." (took action)
• "He persuaded us to stay." (changed our behaviour)

You convince someone of something (belief), but you persuade someone to do something (action). "He convinced me to go" - technically should be "persuaded me to go."

In modern English, "convince" is used for both, and this is so widespread that insisting on the distinction sounds pedantic. Most native speakers use them interchangeably in conversation.

Distinguishing them shows precision. "The evidence convinced them that the plan would work; the results persuaded them to continue."

The distinction matters most in formal academic and legal writing.