Cool MateExcellent vs That's a terrific story
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
That's a terrific story
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Excellent
| Excellent | That's a terrific story | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ə təˈrɪfɪk ˈstɔːri//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə təˈrɪfɪk ˈstɔri// |
| Meaning | very good or great | It's a great story. |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | After hearing her tale, I told her, 'That's a terrific story!' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | tell a story, great story, hear a story, share a story, exciting story |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | - |
| 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 'terrific' incorrectly as negative (it means great), Confusing 'terrific' with 'terrible', Not using 'that's' when starting the phrase |
| 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 this phrase to express enjoyment or admiration for someone's story. It's appropriate in most conversational contexts but may sound overly enthusiastic in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs That's a terrific story
What's the difference between Excellent and That's a terrific story?
Excellent: very good or great That's a terrific story: It's a great story.
Which is more common: Excellent and That's a terrific story?
Excellent is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Excellent: Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. That's a terrific story: After hearing her tale, I told her, 'That's a terrific story!'
Can I use Excellent and That's a terrific story interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent and That's a terrific story 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.