Cool MateNot so good vs Poor
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Not so good
Top 2,000 (common)
Poor
Top 1,000 (very common)A1
Most common: Poor
| Not so good | Poor | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt səʊ ɡʊd//🇺🇸 //nɑt soʊ ɡʊd// | 🇬🇧 /["/pɔː(r)//pʊə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pʊr//pɔːr/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not great or satisfactory. | Having little money or resources |
| Example | After the meeting, I felt that the outcome was not so good. | She is in a poor condition after the accident. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Collocations | feel not so good, look not so good, be not so good, become not so good | poor health, poor quality, poor performance |
| Antonyms | - | rich, wealthy, affluent |
| Common mistakes | Using it in a positive context., Confusing with 'okay'., Overusing in professional settings. | Confused with 'pore' (the skin opening), Using 'poor' as a noun (should use 'the poor'), Saying 'poorness', which is not standard |
| Usage notes | Common in informal conversations when expressing dissatisfaction or disappointment. Avoid in formal writing or speech. | Use 'poor' to describe someone lacking money or in bad conditions. Avoid using it in formal reports where 'underprivileged' might be more suitable. |
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Frequently asked questions: Not so good vs Poor
What's the difference between Not so good and Poor?
Not so good: Not great or satisfactory. Poor: Having little money or resources
Which is more common: Not so good and Poor?
Poor is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Not so good: After the meeting, I felt that the outcome was not so good. Poor: She is in a poor condition after the accident.
Can I use Not so good and Poor interchangeably?
Not always. Not so good and Poor 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.