Cool MateAverage vs Not great not terrible
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Average
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Not great not terrible
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Average
| Average | Not great not terrible | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈævərɪdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈævərɪdʒ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ɡreɪt nɒt ˈtɛrɪbəl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ɡreɪt nɑt ˈtɛrəbəl// |
| Meaning | Not special or better than others; typical. | It's okay, neither good nor bad. |
| Example | The average temperature in July is often quite high. | The movie was not great, not terrible; just what I expected. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | average score, average temperature, average person, average performance, average income | not great not terrible experience, not great not terrible day, not great not terrible review |
| Antonyms | exceptional, unusual, extraordinary | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'mean' — 'mean' can refer specifically to the mathematical average., Using 'average' when something is below standard — average means typical, not poor. | Used in overly formal situations., Misunderstood as purely negative., Confused with similar phrases like 'meh'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'average' to describe something that is typical or normal. Avoid it in formal writing when more specific terms are appropriate. | Use this phrase in casual conversations to express a mixed or average opinion. It's informal and may not be suitable for formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Average vs Not great not terrible
What's the difference between Average and Not great not terrible?
Average: Not special or better than others; typical. Not great not terrible: It's okay, neither good nor bad.
Which is more common: Average and Not great not terrible?
Average is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Average: The average temperature in July is often quite high. Not great not terrible: The movie was not great, not terrible; just what I expected.
Can I use Average and Not great not terrible interchangeably?
Not always. Average and Not great not terrible 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.