Cool MateAmazing vs It was pretty awesome
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amazing
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
It was pretty awesome
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: AmazingMost common: Amazing
| Amazing | It was pretty awesome | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈprɪti ˈɔːs(ə)m//🇺🇸 //ˈprɪti ˈɔːsəm// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | It was very good or impressive. |
| Example | The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. | We had a pretty awesome time at the beach. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, sound, absolutely, pretty, rather, be nothing short of amazing | pretty awesome experience, pretty awesome day, pretty awesome game, pretty awesome food, pretty awesome performance |
| Antonyms | ordinary, unremarkable, boring | - |
| Common mistakes | Overusing it for average things., Confusing it with 'amaze' as a verb., Using it in negative contexts incorrectly. | Using 'awesome' in overly serious situations., Mispronouncing 'awesome' with too many syllables., Confusing 'awesome' with 'awful' which means bad. |
| Usage notes | Use 'amazing' to describe something that exceeds expectations. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it excessively in formal writing. | Commonly used in casual speech. 'Awesome' can sound overly enthusiastic in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Amazing vs It was pretty awesome
What's the difference between Amazing and It was pretty awesome?
Amazing: very good or impressive It was pretty awesome: It was very good or impressive.
Which is more formal: Amazing and It was pretty awesome?
Amazing is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Amazing and It was pretty awesome?
Amazing is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Amazing: The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. It was pretty awesome: We had a pretty awesome time at the beach.
Can I use Amazing and It was pretty awesome interchangeably?
Not always. Amazing and It was pretty awesome are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.