Cool MateCorrect vs That's right
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Correct
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That's right
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Correct
| Correct | That's right | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəˈrekt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəˈrekt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts raɪt//🇺🇸 //ðæts raɪt// |
| Meaning | To make right or accurate. | You are correct. |
| Example | It is important to have the correct answer on the test. | You got the answer, that's right! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, prove, seem, absolutely, completely, entirely, in, be, prove, seem, absolutely, completely, entirely, in | that's right, exactly, that's right, of course, that's right, you got it |
| Antonyms | incorrect, wrong, false | That's wrong, Not correct, That's false |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'correctly' (adverb), Using 'correct' in passive constructions incorrectly, Mixing up 'correct' with 'right' | Using in a formal presentation, Confusing with 'that's correct', Overusing in conversations |
| Usage notes | Use 'correct' in both written and spoken English to indicate that something is accurate. It is suitable for formal and informal contexts. Avoid using in casual settings when less serious language is expected. | Use to confirm someone’s statement. Avoid in formal writing or when disagreeing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Correct vs That's right
What's the difference between Correct and That's right?
Correct: To make right or accurate. That's right: You are correct.
Which is more common: Correct and That's right?
Correct is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Correct: It is important to have the correct answer on the test. That's right: You got the answer, that's right!
Can I use Correct and That's right interchangeably?
Not always. Correct and That's right 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.