Cool MateAmazing vs That's astonishing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amazing
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That's astonishing
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Amazing
| Amazing | That's astonishing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðæts əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋ// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | That's surprising or hard to believe. |
| Example | The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. | When I heard the news, I said, 'That's astonishing!' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, sound, absolutely, pretty, rather, be nothing short of amazing | that's astonishing news, that's astonishing to see, that's astonishing behavior |
| Antonyms | ordinary, unremarkable, boring | - |
| Common mistakes | Overusing it for average things., Confusing it with 'amaze' as a verb., Using it in negative contexts incorrectly. | Using 'astonishing' in a negative context., Confusing 'astonishing' with 'astonished' which means surprised., Saying 'That's astonish' instead of 'That's astonishing'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'amazing' to describe something that exceeds expectations. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it excessively in formal writing. | Use 'That's astonishing' to express strong surprise. It's best in formal or neutral contexts, avoiding slangy conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Amazing vs That's astonishing
What's the difference between Amazing and That's astonishing?
Amazing: very good or impressive That's astonishing: That's surprising or hard to believe.
Which is more common: Amazing and That's astonishing?
Amazing is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Amazing: The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. That's astonishing: When I heard the news, I said, 'That's astonishing!'
Can I use Amazing and That's astonishing interchangeably?
Not always. Amazing and That's astonishing 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.