Cool MateEncouraging vs This is actually very hopeful
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Encouraging
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
This is actually very hopeful
Top 2,000 (common)
| Encouraging | This is actually very hopeful | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkɜːrɪdʒɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs ɪz ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li ˈvɛr.i ˈhəʊp.fəl//🇺🇸 //ðɪs ɪz ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li ˈvɛr.i ˈhoʊp.fəl// |
| Meaning | Making someone feel good and want to try harder. | This is really positive or encouraging. |
| Example | This month's unemployment figures are not very encouraging. | This is actually very hopeful considering the challenges we face. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | encouraging words, encouraging message, encouraging feedback | very hopeful news, actually quite hopeful, feeling hopeful, hopeful outlook, seemingly hopeful |
| Antonyms | discouraging, demotivating | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'encouraged' which is the past tense., Overusing it in negative contexts, instead of positive support., Using 'encouraging' incorrectly as a noun. | Confusing 'actually' with 'really'; they have different emphases., Using 'hopeful' incorrectly to describe non-human subjects., Overusing 'actually' in formal writing. |
| Usage notes | Use 'encouraging' when talking about support. It's appropriate in both casual and professional contexts, but avoid it in very critical situations or when giving tough feedback. | Use 'actually' to emphasize something surprising or contrary to expectations. Suitable for informal and formal contexts, conveying positivity. |
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Frequently asked questions: Encouraging vs This is actually very hopeful
What's the difference between Encouraging and This is actually very hopeful?
Encouraging: Making someone feel good and want to try harder. This is actually very hopeful: This is really positive or encouraging.
Can you show an example of each?
Encouraging: This month's unemployment figures are not very encouraging. This is actually very hopeful: This is actually very hopeful considering the challenges we face.
Can I use Encouraging and This is actually very hopeful interchangeably?
Not always. Encouraging and This is actually very hopeful 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.