Correct vs True

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

Correct

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 adjective

True

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 adjective

	Correct	True
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/kəˈrekt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kəˈrekt/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/truː/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/truː/"]/
Meaning	To make right or accurate.	Correct or real; not false.
Example	It is important to have the correct answer on the test.	The story is true, and I believe every word of it.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A1	A1
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
Collocations	be, prove, seem, absolutely, completely, entirely, in, be, prove, seem, absolutely, completely, entirely, in	be, ring, seem, especially, particularly, very, be, feel, remain, absolutely, to, true to your word
Antonyms	incorrect, wrong, false	false, untrue, incorrect
Common mistakes	Confused with 'correctly' (adverb), Using 'correct' in passive constructions incorrectly, Mixing up 'correct' with 'right'	Confused with 'truly' as an adverb., 'True' is often misspelled as 'tru'., Used the phrase 'true in' instead of 'true to'.
Usage notes	Use 'correct' in both written and spoken English to indicate that something is accurate. It is suitable for formal and informal contexts. Avoid using in casual settings when less serious language is expected.	Used when confirming the accuracy of something. Appropriate in both casual and serious contexts. Avoid in overly casual settings when it may sound too blunt.

See it in real clips

- After tonight ? - Correct. I got all tonight to quack.

- Fifteen seconds after the body hit the floor. - Correct.

- After tonight ? - Correct. I got all tonight to quack.

- Fifteen seconds after the body hit the floor. - Correct.

Correct

Is it true?

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

Yes, and it's all the pavilion a true knight needs.

The Pitt › S1 E1

Is it true?

Is it true?

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

Yes, and it's all the pavilion a true knight needs.

True

Frequently asked questions: Correct vs True

What's the difference between Correct and True?

Correct: To make right or accurate. True: Correct or real; not false.

Are Correct and True the same CEFR level?

Correct: A1, True: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Correct and True?

Correct: adjective, True: adjective.

Can you show an example of each?

Correct: It is important to have the correct answer on the test. True: The story is true, and I believe every word of it.

Can I use Correct and True interchangeably?

Not always. Correct and 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.