Cool MateFrankly vs Going to be honest vs Honestly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Frankly
Top 2,000 (common)C1adverb
Going to be honest
Top 2,000 (common)
Honestly
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: Honestly
| Frankly | Going to be honest | Honestly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfræŋkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfræŋkli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈɡəʊɪŋ tə bi ˈɒnɪst//🇺🇸 //ˈɡoʊɪŋ tə bi ˈɑːnəst// | 🇬🇧 //ˈɒnɪstli//🇺🇸 //ˈɑnɪstli// |
| Meaning | Honestly or directly. | I will tell the truth. | In a truthful way. |
| Example | He spoke frankly about the ordeal. | Going to be honest, I didn't enjoy the movie. | Honestly, I didn't know what to say. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | ||
| Collocations | speak frankly, frankly speaking, respond frankly | going to be honest with you, going to be completely honest, going to be honest about | speak honestly, honestly admit, honestly say |
| Antonyms | deceptively, insincerely, dishonestly | - | dishonestly, insincerely |
| Common mistakes | Used in questions when it should be a statement., Confused with 'frank' as an adjective., Overused in casual settings. | Using it in overly formal contexts., Misplacing the phrase in sentences., Confusing it with similar expressions. | Confused with 'honestly speaking'—don't overuse it., Using it in overly formal contexts can sound odd., Sometimes placed incorrectly in a sentence. |
| Usage notes | Use 'frankly' when you want to express your honest opinion. It's often used in more serious conversations and might be considered too direct for very formal contexts. | Use in informal conversations to express sincerity or straightforwardness. Avoid in very formal situations. | Used to emphasize truthfulness, often at the beginning of a sentence. Suitable in both casual and formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Frankly vs Going to be honest vs Honestly
What's the difference between Frankly, Going to be honest, and Honestly?
Frankly: Honestly or directly. Going to be honest: I will tell the truth. Honestly: In a truthful way.
Which is more common: Frankly, Going to be honest, and Honestly?
Honestly is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Frankly: He spoke frankly about the ordeal. Going to be honest: Going to be honest, I didn't enjoy the movie. Honestly: Honestly, I didn't know what to say.
Can I use Frankly, Going to be honest, and Honestly interchangeably?
Not always. Frankly, Going to be honest, and Honestly 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.