Cool MateShortly vs Won't be long
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Shortly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Won't be long
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Shortly
| Shortly | Won't be long | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈʃɔːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʃɔːrtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wəʊnt bi lɒŋ//🇺🇸 //woʊnt bi lɔŋ// |
| Meaning | In a little time; soon. | It won't take much time. |
| Example | She arrived shortly after us. | I'll be back from the store; it won't be long. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | arrive shortly, speak shortly, come shortly, finish shortly, depart shortly | won't be long before, it won't be long, won't be long at all |
| Antonyms | later, afterward | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'shortly' with 'briefly' — 'shortly' refers to time, while 'briefly' refers to duration., Using 'shortly' for distant future events — it's used for things happening soon, not days later., Omitting the context; learners may forget to specify 'shortly' before what will happen. | Using it in very formal situations., Confusing it with 'won't be long now', which emphasizes immediacy. |
| Usage notes | Use 'shortly' to indicate that something will happen soon, usually within a few minutes or hours. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it in very informal conversations where simpler terms like 'soon' might be preferred. | Commonly used in informal speech to reassure someone that something will happen soon. It can be used in both spoken and written contexts but is more frequent in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Shortly vs Won't be long
What's the difference between Shortly and Won't be long?
Shortly: In a little time; soon. Won't be long: It won't take much time.
Which is more common: Shortly and Won't be long?
Shortly is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Shortly: She arrived shortly after us. Won't be long: I'll be back from the store; it won't be long.
Can I use Shortly and Won't be long interchangeably?
Not always. Shortly and Won't be long 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.