Cool MateConfident vs Sure about that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Confident
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
Sure about that
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Confident
| Confident | Sure about that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈkɒn.fɪ.dənt//🇺🇸 //ˈkɑːn.fɪ.dənt// | 🇬🇧 //ʃʊə əˈbaʊt ðæt//🇺🇸 //ʃʊr əˈbaʊt ðæt// |
| Meaning | Feeling sure about yourself and your abilities. | Confident in something or having no doubt. |
| Example | She was confident during her presentation. | I am sure about that decision we made last week. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | confident attitude, confident speaker, confident approach, confident smile | sure about something, not sure about that, be sure about it |
| Antonyms | insecure, doubtful, unsure | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'confidence' which is the noun form., Using 'confident' to describe objects instead of people., Confusing 'confident' with 'arrogant', which has a negative connotation. | Using with a negative without proper context., Confusing with 'sure of' which can imply a different nuance., Incorrect intonation may change the meaning. |
| Usage notes | Use 'confident' to describe someone who believes in their skills. Generally appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. | Use in conversations to express confidence or assurance. It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. Avoid using it when unsure. |
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Frequently asked questions: Confident vs Sure about that
What's the difference between Confident and Sure about that?
Confident: Feeling sure about yourself and your abilities. Sure about that: Confident in something or having no doubt.
Which is more common: Confident and Sure about that?
Confident is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Confident: She was confident during her presentation. Sure about that: I am sure about that decision we made last week.
Can I use Confident and Sure about that interchangeably?
Not always. Confident and Sure about that 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.