Cool MateBut it did vs Certainly vs Indeed vs That's true
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
But it did
Certainly
Indeed
That's true
| But it did | Certainly | Indeed | That's true | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bət ɪt dɪd//🇺🇸 //bət ɪt dɪd// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɜːtnli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɜːrtnli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈdiːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈdiːd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts truː//🇺🇸 //ðæts tru// |
| Meaning | A phrase used to say something happened or was true. | Definitely; for sure. | Yes, really; for sure. | It is correct. |
| Example | I thought he would lose, but it did. | Without treatment, she will **almost certainly** die. | Indeed, the project is going much better than we expected. | She really loves painting, and that's true. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | ||
| Collocations | make a point, address a concern, prove a fact | certainly agree, certainly possible, certainly not, certainly true, certainly yes | indeed true, indeed a fact, as you said, indeed | that's true for, that's true about, that's true in |
| Antonyms | - | uncertainly, doubtfully | disregarding, neglecting | that's false, that's incorrect |
| Common mistakes | Using without context, leading to confusion., Omitting it and using just 'did' may change meaning., Misplacing in a sentence can affect clarity. | 'Certainly' is often incorrectly used in place of 'certain' in adjectives., Learners might confuse 'certainly' with 'definitely' without noticing the subtle nuance., Some learners use 'certainly' in inappropriate contexts, such as casual greetings. | Using 'indeed' in extremely casual texts, where 'yes' would be more appropriate., Confusing 'indeed' with 'instead' — they have different meanings., Placing 'indeed' too far from what it modifies, making it unclear. | Using 'that's truth' instead of 'that's true'., Confusing with 'that's truthfully'., Overusing in formal writing. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in conversations or responses to emphasize a point. It’s appropriate in both informal and formal contexts. | Use 'certainly' when you want to emphasize affirmation or agreement. It is more formal than 'sure' and works well in professional settings, but might feel too strong in casual conversations. | Used to confirm something previously mentioned. Normal in both spoken and written English, but less common in very casual conversations. | Used to agree with a statement. Avoid in overly formal contexts; prefer 'that is correct' instead. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: But it did vs Certainly vs Indeed vs That's true
What's the difference between But it did, Certainly, Indeed, and That's true?
But it did: A phrase used to say something happened or was true. Certainly: Definitely; for sure. Indeed: Yes, really; for sure. That's true: It is correct.
Which is more advanced: But it did, Certainly, Indeed, and That's true?
Indeed is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
But it did: I thought he would lose, but it did. Certainly: Without treatment, she will **almost certainly** die. Indeed: Indeed, the project is going much better than we expected. That's true: She really loves painting, and that's true.
Can I use But it did, Certainly, Indeed, and That's true interchangeably?
Not always. But it did, Certainly, Indeed, and That's true 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.