Cool MateFull-time vs Regular
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Full-time
Top 2,000 (common)B1noun
Regular
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Most common: Regular
| Full-time | Regular | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌfʊl ˈtaɪm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌfʊl ˈtaɪm/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈreɡjələ(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈreɡjələr/"]/ |
| Meaning | Working all the hours of a regular job, usually 40 hours a week. | Something that happens often or follows a usual pattern. |
| Example | The referee blew his whistle for full time. | I go to the gym on a regular basis to stay fit. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | adjective |
| Collocations | full-time job, full-time employee, full-time position | be, highly, very, perfectly, be, seem, become, very, fairly, pretty, at regular intervals, on a regular basis, be, seem, become, very, fairly, pretty, at regular intervals, on a regular basis, be, seem, fairly, pretty, perfectly, be, highly, very, perfectly |
| Antonyms | part-time, temporary | irregular, unusual, occasional |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'part-time', which means working fewer hours., Using it to describe unpaid work, which isn't usually correct., Misplacing the hyphen, writing 'full time' instead of 'full-time'. | Confusing 'regular' with 'regularly' (adverb), Using 'regular' in a negative structure incorrectly, like 'not regular' instead of 'irregular', Overusing 'regular' instead of more specific adjectives like 'standard' or 'common' |
| Usage notes | Usually used in job descriptions or discussions about work hours. Not typically used in informal contexts. | Used to describe things that are common or expected. In formal writing, be cautious with synonyms like 'consistent' for precision. Avoid in casual contexts where 'usual' or 'typical' might be clearer. |
Frequently asked questions: Full-time vs Regular
What's the difference between Full-time and Regular?
Full-time: Working all the hours of a regular job, usually 40 hours a week. Regular: Something that happens often or follows a usual pattern.
Which is more common: Full-time and Regular?
Regular is the most common in everyday English.
Are Full-time and Regular the same CEFR level?
Full-time: B1, Regular: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Full-time and Regular interchangeably?
Not always. Full-time and Regular 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.