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