Cool MateThat's awesome vs That's incredible
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
That's awesome
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)
That's incredible
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: That's incredibleMost common: That's awesome
| That's awesome | That's incredible | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ˈɔːsəm//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˈɔsəm// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ɪnˈkrɛdəbl//🇺🇸 //ðæts ɪnˈkrɛdɪbəl// |
| Meaning | That's really great or impressive. | That's amazing or unbelievable. |
| Example | You just won the contest? That's awesome! | Did you see how high he jumped? That's incredible! |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | that's fantastic, that's amazing, that's great | That's incredible news, That's incredible talent, That's incredible technology |
| Common mistakes | Used in overly formal contexts., Confused with 'that's awfully' (which has a negative connotation). | Using it sarcastically in a serious conversation., Confusing with 'That's amazing' in terms of intensity. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase in casual conversations to express excitement or approval. Avoid in formal writing. | Used to express admiration or disbelief. Suitable in both formal and casual conversations. Avoid in overly serious contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: That's awesome vs That's incredible
What's the difference between That's awesome and That's incredible?
That's awesome: That's really great or impressive. That's incredible: That's amazing or unbelievable.
Which is more formal: That's awesome and That's incredible?
That's incredible is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: That's awesome and That's incredible?
That's awesome is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
That's awesome: You just won the contest? That's awesome! That's incredible: Did you see how high he jumped? That's incredible!
Can I use That's awesome and That's incredible interchangeably?
Not always. That's awesome and That's incredible 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.