Cool MateExcellent vs Great vs Remarkable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Great
Remarkable
| Excellent | Great | Remarkable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmɑːkəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmɑːrkəbl/"]/ |
| Meaning | very good or great | very good or impressive | 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! | The scientist made a remarkable discovery that changed the field forever. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | 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, seem, absolutely, just, most, for |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | terrible, poor, bad | 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. | 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 '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 Remarkable
What's the difference between Excellent, Great, and Remarkable?
Excellent: very good or great Great: very good or impressive Remarkable: Very special or unusual, worth noticing.
Which is more advanced: Excellent, Great, and Remarkable?
Remarkable is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Excellent, Great, and Remarkable the same CEFR level?
Excellent: A2, Great: A1, Remarkable: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Excellent, Great, and Remarkable?
Excellent: adjective, Great: 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! Remarkable: The scientist made a remarkable discovery that changed the field forever.
Can I use Excellent, Great, and Remarkable interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent, Great, 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.