Cool MateExcellent vs Great vs Outstanding vs Remarkable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Great
Outstanding
Remarkable
| Excellent | Great | Outstanding | Remarkable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/aʊtˈstændɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/aʊtˈstændɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmɑːkəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmɑːrkəbl/"]/ |
| Meaning | very good or great | very good or impressive | Very good or excellent. | Very special or unusual, worth noticing. |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | This pizza is great and very tasty! | She received an outstanding performance evaluation from her manager. | The scientist made a remarkable discovery that changed the field forever. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, really, truly, very, be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great | be, consider something, particularly, really, truly, be, remain, leave something, still | be, seem, absolutely, just, most, for |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | terrible, poor, bad | mediocre, ordinary, unremarkable | ordinary, unremarkable, mundane |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excellent' in a negative context (e.g. 'That was an excellent mistake')., Confusing 'excellent' with 'excellently' (adverb form) in the wrong context., Overusing it when 'good' or 'fine' would suffice. | Using 'great' in a sarcastic way without context., Confusing 'great' with 'grate' when writing., Overusing 'great' instead of finding more specific adjectives. | Used incorrectly as a noun., Confused with 'outstand' (verb)., 'Outstanding' used in a sarcastic context when it should be genuine. | Confused with 'remarkable' and 'notable', which have subtle differences in connotation., Using 'remarkable' in a negative context, which doesn't fit its positive meaning., Overusing it; it can sound exaggerated if used too frequently. |
| Usage notes | Use 'excellent' to describe something that is of very high quality. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler terms might be more fitting. | Use 'great' to describe something positive or impressive. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in a sarcastic tone, as it can change the meaning. | Use 'outstanding' to describe something that is much better than average. It's appropriate in both professional and casual contexts, but be careful not to overuse it, as it can lose its impact. | Use 'remarkable' to describe something that is impressive, surprising, or extraordinary. It is neutral in tone, so it can be used in most contexts, including both spoken and written language. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations where simpler terms may suffice. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs Great vs Outstanding vs Remarkable
What's the difference between Excellent, Great, Outstanding, and Remarkable?
Excellent: very good or great Great: very good or impressive Outstanding: Very good or excellent. Remarkable: Very special or unusual, worth noticing.
Are Excellent, Great, Outstanding, and Remarkable the same CEFR level?
Excellent: A2, Great: A1, Outstanding: B2, Remarkable: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Excellent, Great, Outstanding, and Remarkable?
Excellent: adjective, Great: adjective, Outstanding: adjective, Remarkable: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Excellent: Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. Great: This pizza is great and very tasty! Outstanding: She received an outstanding performance evaluation from her manager. Remarkable: The scientist made a remarkable discovery that changed the field forever.
Can I use Excellent, Great, Outstanding, and Remarkable interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent, Great, Outstanding, and Remarkable 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.