Commonly confused
Come by vs Come round
“Come by” and “Come round” look alike but pull in different directions. Here is what each one means, with examples — and the difference that learners most often miss.
The key difference
Come by means pay a brief visit to someone. Come round means visit someone briefly at their home.
come by
- 1
Pay a brief visit to someone
“Come by for a coffee.”
come round
- 1
Visit someone briefly at their home
“Come round for tea.”
- 2
Eventually accept a different point of view
“He'll come round in time.”
- 3
Regain consciousness after fainting or anaesthesia
“She came round after the operation.”
Stop mixing them up
Sink In turns confusable pairs like this into quick contrast drills, so the right particle becomes automatic.