Incredible vs Playing Lazer Tag is awesome

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Incredible

Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective

Playing Lazer Tag is awesome

InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: IncredibleMost common: Incredible
 IncrediblePlaying Lazer Tag is awesome
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇬🇧 //ˈɔːs(ə)m//🇺🇸 //ˈɔsəm//
MeaningVery surprising or hard to believe.Playing Lazer Tag is really fun.
ExampleThe magician's tricks were absolutely incredible!Playing Lazer Tag is awesome because it gets everyone moving.
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, toreally awesome, absolutely awesome, pretty awesome, truly awesome
Antonymsordinary, common, unremarkable-
Common mistakesUsing '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' for something minor or trivial., Confusing 'awesome' with 'awful' due to similar sounds., Overusing 'awesome' in every context.
Usage notesUse 'incredible' to describe something amazing or extraordinary. It is appropriate in both casual and serious contexts, but avoid it in overly formal writing.Use 'awesome' in casual settings. It may be too strong for formal conversations.

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Incredible
Playing Lazer Tag is awesome

Frequently asked questions: Incredible vs Playing Lazer Tag is awesome

What's the difference between Incredible and Playing Lazer Tag is awesome?

Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. Playing Lazer Tag is awesome: Playing Lazer Tag is really fun.

Which is more formal: Incredible and Playing Lazer Tag is awesome?

Incredible is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Incredible and Playing Lazer Tag is awesome?

Incredible is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! Playing Lazer Tag is awesome: Playing Lazer Tag is awesome because it gets everyone moving.

Can I use Incredible and Playing Lazer Tag is awesome interchangeably?

Not always. Incredible and Playing Lazer Tag is 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.

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