Cool MateAttractive vs How good-looking he is
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Attractive
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
How good-looking he is
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: AttractiveMost common: Attractive
| Attractive | How good-looking he is | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈtræktɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtræktɪv/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //haʊ ɡʊdˈlʊkɪŋ hi ɪz//🇺🇸 //haʊ ɡʊdˈlʊkɪŋ hi ɪz// |
| Meaning | nice to look at or interesting | How attractive someone appears. |
| Example | She wore an attractive dress that caught everyone’s attention. | Everyone keeps saying, 'How good-looking he is!' when he walks into the room. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, become, extremely, fairly, very, to, be, look, become, extremely, fairly, very, to, be, look, become, extremely, fairly, very, to | good-looking guy, how good-looking, good-looking features, really good-looking, very good-looking |
| Antonyms | unattractive, ugly, repulsive | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'attractive' to describe non-physical qualities too often., Confusing 'attractive' with 'attracting' when describing events., Using 'most attractive' instead of 'more attractive' when comparing two items. | Confused with 'how good he looks' which is more direct., Omitting 'how' makes it less expressive., Used in inappropriate contexts, like job interviews. |
| Usage notes | Use 'attractive' in neutral contexts, typically for describing people, places, or things. Avoid using it in overly formal situations, as it may seem too casual for professional descriptions. | Used in casual conversations to compliment someone's appearance. Avoid in formal or professional settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Attractive vs How good-looking he is
What's the difference between Attractive and How good-looking he is?
Attractive: nice to look at or interesting How good-looking he is: How attractive someone appears.
Which is more formal: Attractive and How good-looking he is?
Attractive is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Attractive and How good-looking he is?
Attractive is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Attractive: She wore an attractive dress that caught everyone’s attention. How good-looking he is: Everyone keeps saying, 'How good-looking he is!' when he walks into the room.
Can I use Attractive and How good-looking he is interchangeably?
Not always. Attractive and How good-looking he is 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.