Better hurry vs Quickly

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Better hurry

InformalTop 2,000 (common)

Quickly

Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most formal: QuicklyMost common: Quickly
 Better hurryQuickly
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈbɛtə ˈhʌri//🇺🇸 //ˈbɛtər ˈhɜri//🇬🇧 /["/ˈkwɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkwɪkli/"]/
MeaningGo faster.In a fast manner
ExampleWe better hurry if we want to catch the bus!She ran quickly to catch the bus.
RegisterInformalNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A1
Part of speechadverb
Collocationsbetter hurry up, better hurry along, better hurry backmove quickly, react quickly, think quickly
Antonyms-slowly
Common mistakesMisused in formal situations where 'please be quick' is more appropriate., Often omitted the subject, saying just 'hurry' instead.Using 'quick' instead of 'quickly' when modifying a verb., Placing 'quickly' too far from the verb it modifies., Confusing 'quickly' with 'fastly' since 'fast' is the correct adverb.
Usage notesUse 'better hurry' when suggesting someone should move quickly; often used informally among friends. Avoid in formal contexts.Use 'quickly' when describing how something is done fast. Appropriate in both spoken and written English, but may be overly formal in casual conversations.

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Better hurry
Quickly

Frequently asked questions: Better hurry vs Quickly

What's the difference between Better hurry and Quickly?

Better hurry: Go faster. Quickly: In a fast manner

Which is more formal: Better hurry and Quickly?

Quickly is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Better hurry and Quickly?

Quickly is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Better hurry: We better hurry if we want to catch the bus! Quickly: She ran quickly to catch the bus.

Can I use Better hurry and Quickly interchangeably?

Not always. Better hurry and Quickly 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.

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