Cool MateReliable vs The numbers are solid
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Reliable
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
The numbers are solid
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Reliable
| Reliable | The numbers are solid | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈlaɪəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈlaɪəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðə ˈnʌmbəz ə sɒlɪd//🇺🇸 //ðə ˈnʌmbərz ɑr ˈsɑːlɪd// |
| Meaning | Someone or something you can trust to work well or be true. | The numbers are strong or reliable. |
| Example | You can always count on her; she is very reliable. | After reviewing the data, I can confidently say that the numbers are solid. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, prove, seem, extremely, fairly, very, as, be, prove, seem, extremely, fairly, very, as | solid evidence, solid performance, solid data, solid foundation, solid results |
| Antonyms | unreliable, inconsistent, untrustworthy | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'reliable' with a subject that can't be trusted., Confusing 'reliable' with 'reliant' which has a different meaning., Using 'reliable' to mean 'accurate' which is not the same. | Misunderstanding 'solid' as only meaning physically hard rather than reliable., Using 'solid' in a vague context without explaining why the numbers are solid., Confusing the phrase with 'the numbers are good', which has a slightly different connotation. |
| Usage notes | Use 'reliable' in contexts where you want to express trustworthiness. It's suitable for both formal and informal settings, but avoid it in overly casual speech. | This phrase is often used in business or academic contexts to indicate that data or statistics are trustworthy. It's not typically used in informal conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Reliable vs The numbers are solid
What's the difference between Reliable and The numbers are solid?
Reliable: Someone or something you can trust to work well or be true. The numbers are solid: The numbers are strong or reliable.
Which is more common: Reliable and The numbers are solid?
Reliable is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Reliable: You can always count on her; she is very reliable. The numbers are solid: After reviewing the data, I can confidently say that the numbers are solid.
Can I use Reliable and The numbers are solid interchangeably?
Not always. Reliable and The numbers are solid 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.