Cool MateHonestly vs I’m not kidding
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Honestly
Top 1,000 (very common)
I’m not kidding
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: HonestlyMost common: Honestly
| Honestly | I’m not kidding | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɒnɪstli//🇺🇸 //ˈɑnɪstli// | 🇬🇧 //aɪm nɒt ˈkɪd.ɪŋ//🇺🇸 //aɪm nɑt ˈkɪd.ɪŋ// |
| Meaning | In a truthful way. | I'm serious; I am not joking. |
| Example | Honestly, I didn't know what to say. | I’m not kidding; that movie is the scariest one I've ever seen! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | speak honestly, honestly admit, honestly say | I'm serious, not joking, for real, you've got to believe me, believe it or not |
| Antonyms | dishonestly, insincerely | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'honestly speaking'—don't overuse it., Using it in overly formal contexts can sound odd., Sometimes placed incorrectly in a sentence. | 'Kidding' is often confused with 'kid' which means child., Some learners might say 'I am not joking' rather than 'I'm not kidding', but 'kidding' is more common in informal contexts., Using 'I'm not kidding' too seriously can make the tone awkward. |
| Usage notes | Used to emphasize truthfulness, often at the beginning of a sentence. Suitable in both casual and formal contexts. | Used in casual conversation to emphasize that one is being truthful. It's often playful but can also indicate frustration if someone doubts you. |
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Frequently asked questions: Honestly vs I’m not kidding
What's the difference between Honestly and I’m not kidding?
Honestly: In a truthful way. I’m not kidding: I'm serious; I am not joking.
Which is more formal: Honestly and I’m not kidding?
Honestly is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Honestly and I’m not kidding?
Honestly is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Honestly: Honestly, I didn't know what to say. I’m not kidding: I’m not kidding; that movie is the scariest one I've ever seen!
Can I use Honestly and I’m not kidding interchangeably?
Not always. Honestly and I’m not kidding 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.