Cool MateIncredible vs That's astonishing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Incredible
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
That's astonishing
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Incredible
| Incredible | That's astonishing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðæts əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Very surprising or hard to believe. | That's surprising or hard to believe. |
| Example | The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! | When I heard the news, I said, 'That's astonishing!' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to | that's astonishing news, that's astonishing to see, that's astonishing behavior |
| 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 'astonishing' in a negative context., Confusing 'astonishing' with 'astonished' which means surprised., Saying 'That's astonish' instead of 'That's astonishing'. |
| 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. | Use 'That's astonishing' to express strong surprise. It's best in formal or neutral contexts, avoiding slangy conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Incredible vs That's astonishing
What's the difference between Incredible and That's astonishing?
Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. That's astonishing: That's surprising or hard to believe.
Which is more common: Incredible and That's astonishing?
Incredible is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! That's astonishing: When I heard the news, I said, 'That's astonishing!'
Can I use Incredible and That's astonishing interchangeably?
Not always. Incredible and That's astonishing 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.