Cool MateExceptional vs You don't find that every day
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Exceptional
You don't find that every day
| Exceptional | You don't find that every day | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈsepʃənl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈsepʃənl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː dəʊnt faɪnd ðæt ˈɛvri deɪ//🇺🇸 //ju doʊnt faɪnd ðæt ˈɛvri deɪ// |
| Meaning | Very good or unusual; better than normal. | It's not something you see or experience often. |
| Example | Her exceptional talent in mathematics earned her a scholarship to the university. | Finding a four-leaf clover is something you don't find that every day. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, remain, consider somebody/something, highly, pretty, really, nothing exceptional, something exceptional | not find that often, experience that regularly, see that frequently, discover that often, encounter that daily |
| Antonyms | ordinary, common, average | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'exceptional' vs 'exceptionable' — the latter means objectionable., Using 'exceptional' incorrectly as a verb., Mispronouncing the word, leading to misunderstanding. | Used incorrectly in formal writing when a direct quote is preferred., Misused to convey negativity rather than surprise., Omitted necessary context leading to confusion. |
| Usage notes | Use 'exceptional' to describe something that stands out positively. It’s appropriate in both professional and everyday contexts, but avoid using it too frequently to maintain its impact. | Use this phrase to express surprise or uniqueness. Appropriate in casual conversation, but can also be used in more formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Exceptional vs You don't find that every day
What's the difference between Exceptional and You don't find that every day?
Exceptional: Very good or unusual; better than normal. You don't find that every day: It's not something you see or experience often.
Which is more common: Exceptional and You don't find that every day?
Exceptional is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Exceptional: Her exceptional talent in mathematics earned her a scholarship to the university. You don't find that every day: Finding a four-leaf clover is something you don't find that every day.
Can I use Exceptional and You don't find that every day interchangeably?
Not always. Exceptional and You don't find that every day 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.