Cool MateThat's a terrific story vs Wonderful
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
That's a terrific story
Top 2,000 (common)
Wonderful
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Most common: Wonderful
| That's a terrific story | Wonderful | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ə təˈrɪfɪk ˈstɔːri//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə təˈrɪfɪk ˈstɔri// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌndəfl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwʌndərfl/"]/ |
| Meaning | It's a great story. | Very good or great; something that makes you feel happy. |
| Example | After hearing her tale, I told her, 'That's a terrific story!' | The view from the top of the mountain was wonderful. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | tell a story, great story, hear a story, share a story, exciting story | be, feel, look, most, really, absolutely, strange and wonderful, weird and wonderful |
| Antonyms | - | terrible, awful, bad |
| Common mistakes | Using 'terrific' incorrectly as negative (it means great), Confusing 'terrific' with 'terrible', Not using 'that's' when starting the phrase | Using 'wonderful' too often; it can sound repetitive., Mixing up with 'wonderfull' which is incorrect., Confusing 'wonderful' with 'wonder' which has a different meaning. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase to express enjoyment or admiration for someone's story. It's appropriate in most conversational contexts but may sound overly enthusiastic in formal situations. | Use 'wonderful' to describe experiences, events, or things that bring joy. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written English but avoid using it in overly casual contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: That's a terrific story vs Wonderful
What's the difference between That's a terrific story and Wonderful?
That's a terrific story: It's a great story. Wonderful: Very good or great; something that makes you feel happy.
Which is more common: That's a terrific story and Wonderful?
Wonderful is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
That's a terrific story: After hearing her tale, I told her, 'That's a terrific story!' Wonderful: The view from the top of the mountain was wonderful.
Can I use That's a terrific story and Wonderful interchangeably?
Not always. That's a terrific story and Wonderful 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.