Fortunately vs Thank God you're above all that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fortunately
Thank God you're above all that
| Fortunately | Thank God you're above all that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːtʃənətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //θæŋk ɡɒd jʊə əˈbʌv ɔːl ðæt//🇺🇸 //θæŋk ɡɑːd jʊr əˈbʌv ɔl ðæt// |
| Meaning | Luckily or by good luck. | A way to express relief or gratitude that someone is not involved in something unpleasant. |
| Example | I was late, but fortunately the meeting hadn't started. | Thank God you're above all that; I can't believe how petty those arguments were. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | fortunately for us, fortunately enough, fortunately they arrived | above all that drama, thank God for maturity, grateful for your decisions |
| Antonyms | unfortunately | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'unfortunately' which indicates a negative outcome., Using it to describe a personal situation instead of an outcome., Placing it incorrectly in the sentence, e.g., at the end. | Using it in a very formal situation., Confusing it with religious gratitude in serious contexts., Not understanding it can imply someone's previous involvement. |
| Usage notes | Use 'fortunately' to express a positive outcome. It can make statements sound more formal. Avoid using it in casual speeches or when expressing a negative outcome. | This phrase is commonly used among friends or in casual settings when expressing gratitude for someone's maturity or better choices. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fortunately vs Thank God you're above all that
What's the difference between Fortunately and Thank God you're above all that?
Fortunately: Luckily or by good luck. Thank God you're above all that: A way to express relief or gratitude that someone is not involved in something unpleasant.
Which is more formal: Fortunately and Thank God you're above all that?
Fortunately is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Fortunately and Thank God you're above all that?
Fortunately is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Fortunately: I was late, but fortunately the meeting hadn't started. Thank God you're above all that: Thank God you're above all that; I can't believe how petty those arguments were.
Can I use Fortunately and Thank God you're above all that interchangeably?
Not always. Fortunately and Thank God you're above all that 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.