Cool MateObviously vs You know her of course
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Obviously
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
You know her of course
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Obviously
| Obviously | You know her of course | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɒbviəsli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɑːbviəsli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː nəʊ hɜːr əv kɔːs//🇺🇸 //juː noʊ hɜr əv kɔrs// |
| Meaning | Clearly or easily seen. | You are familiar with her, obviously. |
| Example | Obviously, we don't want to spend too much money. | You know her, of course, she’s your sister! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | obviously correct, obviously wrong, obviously happy, obviously important, obviously true | know her well, know him, of course, you know them too |
| Antonyms | unclearly, ambiguously | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Obvious' vs 'obviously': Confusing the adjective and adverb forms., Using in overly formal situations: It's too casual for very formal writing., Placing it too far from what it's describing: Should be close to the idea it clarifies. | Forgetting to use 'of course' for emphasis., Using 'you know her' without 'of course' can sound less confident., Confusing with similar phrases like 'you've met her'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'obviously' when something is clear or evident. It's appropriate in most contexts but can seem sarcastic if overused. | Used when confirming someone's familiarity with a person. Can be friendly or casual; avoid in formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Obviously vs You know her of course
What's the difference between Obviously and You know her of course?
Obviously: Clearly or easily seen. You know her of course: You are familiar with her, obviously.
Which is more common: Obviously and You know her of course?
Obviously is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Obviously: Obviously, we don't want to spend too much money. You know her of course: You know her, of course, she’s your sister!
Can I use Obviously and You know her of course interchangeably?
Not always. Obviously and You know her of course 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.