Cool MateThorough vs Thoroughly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Thorough
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)B2adjective
Thoroughly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most formal: ThoroughMost common: Thoroughly
| Thorough | Thoroughly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈθʌrə//🇺🇸 //ˈθɜroʊ// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈθʌrəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈθɜːrəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Complete and detailed in everything. | In a detailed and complete way. |
| Example | The report was thorough and covered all relevant information. | We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adverb |
| Collocations | thorough analysis, thorough review, thorough understanding, thorough search, thorough assessment | thoroughly enjoy, thoroughly check, thoroughly understand, thoroughly investigate, thoroughly cleanse |
| Antonyms | superficial, incomplete, partial | superficially, partially, incompletely |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'through'; remember, 'thorough' means detailed., Used interchangeably with 'comprehensive', but they have slightly different implications., Omitted the second 'h' in spelling. | Using 'through' instead of 'thoroughly'., Confusing it with 'thorough', which is an adjective., Misplacing it in a sentence or using it in informal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'thorough' in formal contexts. It's appropriate for academic writing, reports, or when expressing carefulness. Avoid in casual conversations. | Use this word to describe actions done completely and carefully. It's suitable in both speaking and writing. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler words like 'really' or 'very' may be more common. |
Frequently asked questions: Thorough vs Thoroughly
What's the difference between Thorough and Thoroughly?
Thorough: Complete and detailed in everything. Thoroughly: In a detailed and complete way.
Which is more formal: Thorough and Thoroughly?
Thorough is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Thorough and Thoroughly?
Thoroughly is the most common in everyday English.
Are Thorough and Thoroughly the same CEFR level?
Thorough: B2, Thoroughly: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Thorough and Thoroughly interchangeably?
Not always. Thorough and Thoroughly 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.