Cool MateCool vs That'd be swell
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Cool
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That'd be swell
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Cool
| Cool | That'd be swell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kuːl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kuːl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðætəd bi: swɛl//🇺🇸 //ðætəd bi: swɛl// |
| Meaning | Something that is good or impressive. | That would be great. |
| Example | The weather is really cool today. | Getting that promotion? That'd be swell! |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, very, a little, slightly, be, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, be, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, look, very, pretty, about, with, cool, calm and collected, act, appear, be, distinctly, very, rather, about, towards/toward, appear, be, look, very, pretty, about, with, cool, calm and collected | that'd be great, that'd be awesome, that'd be cool |
| Antonyms | uncool, boring, uninteresting | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'cool' to describe temperatures or weather instead of mood or style., Confusing 'cool' with 'great' in contexts where a specific feeling is implied., Overusing 'cool' in formal or academic situations where more precise vocabulary is needed. | Overuse in serious conversations where a formal tone is required., Using the word 'swell' in a negative context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'cool' to describe things that are stylish or admirable. It's very informal, so avoid it in formal writing or conversations. Can imply calmness in some contexts. | Used in casual conversations to express enthusiasm or approval. Avoid in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Cool vs That'd be swell
What's the difference between Cool and That'd be swell?
Cool: Something that is good or impressive. That'd be swell: That would be great.
Which is more common: Cool and That'd be swell?
Cool is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Cool: The weather is really cool today. That'd be swell: Getting that promotion? That'd be swell!
Can I use Cool and That'd be swell interchangeably?
Not always. Cool and That'd be swell 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.