Cool MateIn the next few days vs Shortly vs Soon
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
In the next few days
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Shortly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Soon
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most common: Soon
| In the next few days | Shortly | Soon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪn ðə nɛkst fjuː deɪz//🇺🇸 //ɪn ðə nɛkst fjuː deɪz// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈʃɔːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʃɔːrtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/suːn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/suːn/"]/ |
| Meaning | within several days from now | In a little time; soon. | in a short time |
| Example | We are expecting delivery in the next few days. | She arrived shortly after us. | I will call you soon. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | |
| Collocations | meet in the next few days, expect in the next few days, arrive in the next few days | arrive shortly, speak shortly, come shortly, finish shortly, depart shortly | come soon, arrive soon, leave soon, start soon |
| Antonyms | in the past few days, not in the near future | later, afterward | later, eventually, after |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'the' (should be 'in the next few days', not 'in next few days'), Using 'in few days' instead of 'in a few days', Confusing with 'in the next week' which indicates a longer time period | Confusing 'shortly' with 'briefly' — 'shortly' refers to time, while 'briefly' refers to duration., Using 'shortly' for distant future events — it's used for things happening soon, not days later., Omitting the context; learners may forget to specify 'shortly' before what will happen. | Confuse with 'late' — 'soon' refers to quick timelines, 'late' implies delays., Overuse in formal situations — consider alternatives like 'shortly' for more formal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both spoken and written English to indicate a short future time frame. Avoid in formal documents. | Use 'shortly' to indicate that something will happen soon, usually within a few minutes or hours. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it in very informal conversations where simpler terms like 'soon' might be preferred. | Use 'soon' when you want to indicate that something will happen in the near future. It can be used in various contexts, both informal and formal. Avoid using it in very specific timeframes. |
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Frequently asked questions: In the next few days vs Shortly vs Soon
What's the difference between In the next few days, Shortly, and Soon?
In the next few days: within several days from now Shortly: In a little time; soon. Soon: in a short time
Which is more common: In the next few days, Shortly, and Soon?
Soon is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: In the next few days, Shortly, and Soon?
Shortly is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
In the next few days: We are expecting delivery in the next few days. Shortly: She arrived shortly after us. Soon: I will call you soon.
Can I use In the next few days, Shortly, and Soon interchangeably?
Not always. In the next few days, Shortly, and Soon 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.