Cool MateThat makes sense vs Why doesn't that surprise me
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
That makes sense
Why doesn't that surprise me
| That makes sense | Why doesn't that surprise me | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðæt meɪks sEns//🇺🇸 //ðæt meɪks sEns// | 🇬🇧 //waɪ ˈdʌznt ðæt səˈpraɪz mi//🇺🇸 //waɪ ˈdʌzənt ðæt sərˈpraɪz mi// |
| Meaning | That is understandable. | I expected this to happen. |
| Example | After you explained your reasoning, I thought, 'That makes sense.' | When I heard he lost again, I thought, 'Why doesn't that surprise me?' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | makes sense of something, it makes perfect sense, makes sense to me | surprise me, expected outcome, casual conversation |
| Common mistakes | Using it when someone is explaining something illogical., Misusing it when agreeing but not fully understanding., Overusing in formal contexts where clearer communication is needed. | Using it in formal situations., Misplacing the emphasis, making it sound too sarcastic., Confusing the context where surprise was expected. |
| Usage notes | Used in conversations to confirm understanding or agreement. Generally informal but acceptable in professional settings. Avoid in very formal writing. | Use when something unexpected happens that you actually anticipated. More common in casual conversations; less appropriate in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: That makes sense vs Why doesn't that surprise me
What's the difference between That makes sense and Why doesn't that surprise me?
That makes sense: That is understandable. Why doesn't that surprise me: I expected this to happen.
Which is more formal: That makes sense and Why doesn't that surprise me?
That makes sense is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: That makes sense and Why doesn't that surprise me?
Why doesn't that surprise me is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
That makes sense: After you explained your reasoning, I thought, 'That makes sense.' Why doesn't that surprise me: When I heard he lost again, I thought, 'Why doesn't that surprise me?'
Can I use That makes sense and Why doesn't that surprise me interchangeably?
Not always. That makes sense and Why doesn't that surprise me 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.