Of course vs Yes you do

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

Of course

Top 1,000 (very common)

Yes you do

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

Most formal: Of course Most common: Of course

	Of course	Yes you do
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //əv kɔːs// 🇺🇸 //əv kɔrs//	🇬🇧 //jɛs jʊ duː// 🇺🇸 //jɛs ju du//
Meaning	Definitely, it's obvious.	A way to agree with someone or confirm they do something.
Example	Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course!	You love pizza, right? Yes you do!
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
Collocations	of course not, of course yes, of course you can, of course it is	yes you can, yes you will, yes you should
Common mistakes	Using it in formal writing where a different expression is needed., Confusing it with other affirmations like 'certainly' or 'definitely'.	Using it in overly formal situations., Confusing it with other affirmation phrases like 'sure'.
Usage notes	Used in informal and formal situations to affirm something obvious. Avoid in highly formal writing.	Used in casual conversations to affirm someone's statement. It's not appropriate in formal writing or speeches.

See it in real clips

Of course.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

You know her, of course.

And, of course, I paid my respect to Bubba himself.

Of course.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

You know her, of course.

Of course

Yes, you do.

Yes you do

Frequently asked questions: Of course vs Yes you do

What's the difference between Of course and Yes you do?

Of course: Definitely, it's obvious. Yes you do: A way to agree with someone or confirm they do something.

Which is more formal: Of course and Yes you do?

Of course is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Of course and Yes you do?

Of course is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Of course: Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course! Yes you do: You love pizza, right? Yes you do!

Can I use Of course and Yes you do interchangeably?

Not always. Of course and Yes you do 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.