Cool MateIncredible vs It was pretty awesome
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Incredible
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
It was pretty awesome
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: IncredibleMost common: Incredible
| Incredible | It was pretty awesome | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈprɪti ˈɔːs(ə)m//🇺🇸 //ˈprɪti ˈɔːsəm// |
| Meaning | Very surprising or hard to believe. | It was very good or impressive. |
| Example | The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! | We had a pretty awesome time at the beach. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to | pretty awesome experience, pretty awesome day, pretty awesome game, pretty awesome food, pretty awesome performance |
| Antonyms | ordinary, common, unremarkable | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'incredible' as a noun instead of an adjective., Confusing 'incredible' with 'incredulous' (which means unable to believe)., Overusing 'incredible' to describe everyday situations. | Using 'awesome' in overly serious situations., Mispronouncing 'awesome' with too many syllables., Confusing 'awesome' with 'awful' which means bad. |
| Usage notes | Use 'incredible' to describe something amazing or extraordinary. It is appropriate in both casual and serious contexts, but avoid it in overly formal writing. | Commonly used in casual speech. 'Awesome' can sound overly enthusiastic in formal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Incredible vs It was pretty awesome
What's the difference between Incredible and It was pretty awesome?
Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. It was pretty awesome: It was very good or impressive.
Which is more formal: Incredible and It was pretty awesome?
Incredible is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Incredible and It was pretty awesome?
Incredible is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! It was pretty awesome: We had a pretty awesome time at the beach.
Can I use Incredible and It was pretty awesome interchangeably?
Not always. Incredible and It was pretty awesome 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.