Cool MateIncredible vs You're astounding
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Incredible
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
You're astounding
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Incredible
| Incredible | You're astounding | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //əˈstaʊndɪŋ//🇺🇸 //əˈstaʊndɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Very surprising or hard to believe. | You are amazing or surprising. |
| Example | The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! | Your performance tonight was astounding! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to | astounding talent, astounding achievement, astounding 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. | Confused with 'astounding' as a verb., Misusing the phrase in self-praise instead of complimenting others., Incorrectly using in contexts that don't relate to accomplishment. |
| 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 this phrase to express admiration for someone's talent or achievement. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts. Avoid using overly casual language when speaking to authority figures. |
Frequently asked questions: Incredible vs You're astounding
What's the difference between Incredible and You're astounding?
Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. You're astounding: You are amazing or surprising.
Which is more common: Incredible and You're astounding?
Incredible is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! You're astounding: Your performance tonight was astounding!
Can I use Incredible and You're astounding interchangeably?
Not always. Incredible and You're astounding 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.