Cool MateEssential vs That's important
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Essential
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
That's important
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Essential
| Essential | That's important | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪˈsɛnʃəl//🇺🇸 //ɪˈsɛnʃəl// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ɪmˈpɔːtənt//🇺🇸 //ðæts ɪmˈpɔrtənt// |
| Meaning | Very important or necessary. | This matters a lot. |
| Example | Water is essential for all living things. | It's crucial to remember that **that's important** in our discussion. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | essential item, essential skills, essential part | that's crucial, that's significant, that's essential, that's vital, that's necessary |
| Antonyms | unnecessary, optional, secondary | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'essentially' which means 'basically'., Overused in informal situations where simpler words like 'basic' would suffice., Using it in negative sentences can sound awkward. | Using it in overly formal contexts., Confusing 'that's important' with 'that's necessary', which may imply obligation. |
| Usage notes | Use 'essential' to emphasize the importance of something. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. | Use when emphasizing the significance of something. Appropriate in both casual and serious conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Essential vs That's important
What's the difference between Essential and That's important?
Essential: Very important or necessary. That's important: This matters a lot.
Which is more common: Essential and That's important?
Essential is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Essential: Water is essential for all living things. That's important: It's crucial to remember that **that's important** in our discussion.
Can I use Essential and That's important interchangeably?
Not always. Essential and That's important 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.