Cool MateFar from it vs Not at all
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Far from it
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Not at all
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Not at allMost common: Not at all
| Far from it | Not at all | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fɑː frɒm ɪt//🇺🇸 //fɑr frʌm ɪt// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt æt ɔːl//🇺🇸 //nɑt æt ɔl// |
| Meaning | Not at all true. | not even a little bit |
| Example | I thought you liked ice cream, but you said it's too sweet? Far from it! | I didn't like the movie, not at all. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | far from the truth, far from perfect, far from reality | not at all worried, not at all surprising, not at all offended |
| Antonyms | - | at all, somewhat, partially |
| Common mistakes | Used in formal settings where it sounds too casual., Confused with similar phrases like 'far from that'., Used with incorrect verb forms, such as 'far from it is'. | Confusing with 'not really' which is less absolute., Using it in formal contexts where a less emphatic phrase is better., Omitting it when it's necessary for clarity. |
| Usage notes | Used to contradict a previous statement. Common in casual conversation; less appropriate in formal contexts. | Use 'not at all' to emphasize complete disagreement or absence. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but less common in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Far from it vs Not at all
What's the difference between Far from it and Not at all?
Far from it: Not at all true. Not at all: not even a little bit
Which is more formal: Far from it and Not at all?
Not at all is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Far from it and Not at all?
Not at all is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Far from it: I thought you liked ice cream, but you said it's too sweet? Far from it! Not at all: I didn't like the movie, not at all.
Can I use Far from it and Not at all interchangeably?
Not always. Far from it and Not at all 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.