Cool MateCertainly vs It sure as hell was
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Certainly
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
It sure as hell was
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: CertainlyMost common: Certainly
| Certainly | It sure as hell was | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɜːtnli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɜːrtnli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪt ʃʊə əz hɛl wəz//🇺🇸 //ɪt ʃʊr æz hɛl wəz// |
| Meaning | Definitely; for sure. | A strong way to agree with something. |
| Example | Without treatment, she will **almost certainly** die. | It sure as hell was a great game! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | certainly agree, certainly possible, certainly not, certainly true, certainly yes | it sure as hell, was amazing, was worth it, was fun, was a great idea |
| Antonyms | uncertainly, doubtfully | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Certainly' is often incorrectly used in place of 'certain' in adjectives., Learners might confuse 'certainly' with 'definitely' without noticing the subtle nuance., Some learners use 'certainly' in inappropriate contexts, such as casual greetings. | Using in very formal contexts., Misplacing the phrase within a sentence., Overusing for every agreement. |
| Usage notes | Use 'certainly' when you want to emphasize affirmation or agreement. It is more formal than 'sure' and works well in professional settings, but might feel too strong in casual conversations. | Used for emphasis when agreeing emphatically. Avoid in formal writing; best for conversations or texts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Certainly vs It sure as hell was
What's the difference between Certainly and It sure as hell was?
Certainly: Definitely; for sure. It sure as hell was: A strong way to agree with something.
Which is more formal: Certainly and It sure as hell was?
Certainly is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Certainly and It sure as hell was?
Certainly is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Certainly: Without treatment, she will **almost certainly** die. It sure as hell was: It sure as hell was a great game!
Can I use Certainly and It sure as hell was interchangeably?
Not always. Certainly and It sure as hell was 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.