Cool MateShortly vs Soon vs Won't be long
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Shortly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Soon
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Won't be long
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Soon
| Shortly | Soon | Won't be long | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈʃɔːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʃɔːrtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/suːn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/suːn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wəʊnt bi lɒŋ//🇺🇸 //woʊnt bi lɔŋ// |
| Meaning | In a little time; soon. | in a short time | It won't take much time. |
| Example | She arrived shortly after us. | I will call you soon. | I'll be back from the store; it won't be long. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | |
| Collocations | arrive shortly, speak shortly, come shortly, finish shortly, depart shortly | come soon, arrive soon, leave soon, start soon | won't be long before, it won't be long, won't be long at all |
| Antonyms | later, afterward | later, eventually, after | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'shortly' with 'briefly' — 'shortly' refers to time, while 'briefly' refers to duration., Using 'shortly' for distant future events — it's used for things happening soon, not days later., Omitting the context; learners may forget to specify 'shortly' before what will happen. | Confuse with 'late' — 'soon' refers to quick timelines, 'late' implies delays., Overuse in formal situations — consider alternatives like 'shortly' for more formal contexts. | Using it in very formal situations., Confusing it with 'won't be long now', which emphasizes immediacy. |
| Usage notes | Use 'shortly' to indicate that something will happen soon, usually within a few minutes or hours. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it in very informal conversations where simpler terms like 'soon' might be preferred. | Use 'soon' when you want to indicate that something will happen in the near future. It can be used in various contexts, both informal and formal. Avoid using it in very specific timeframes. | Commonly used in informal speech to reassure someone that something will happen soon. It can be used in both spoken and written contexts but is more frequent in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Shortly vs Soon vs Won't be long
What's the difference between Shortly, Soon, and Won't be long?
Shortly: In a little time; soon. Soon: in a short time Won't be long: It won't take much time.
Which is more common: Shortly, Soon, and Won't be long?
Soon is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Shortly, Soon, and Won't be long?
Shortly is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Shortly: She arrived shortly after us. Soon: I will call you soon. Won't be long: I'll be back from the store; it won't be long.
Can I use Shortly, Soon, and Won't be long interchangeably?
Not always. Shortly, Soon, and Won't be long 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.