Cool MateExactly vs That's what I was thinking vs You're right
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Exactly
That's what I was thinking
You're right
| Exactly | That's what I was thinking | You're right | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæktli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæktli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts wɒt aɪ wəz ˈθɪŋkɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðæts wɑt aɪ wəz ˈθɪŋkɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 //jʊəˈraɪt//🇺🇸 //jʊrˈraɪt// |
| Meaning | In a precise or accurate manner. | This means you had the same idea as someone else. | You are correct. |
| Example | The instructions say to follow the recipe exactly for the best results. | When she suggested pizza for dinner, I said, 'That's what I was thinking.' | When she pointed out the error, I realized she was right. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | ||
| Collocations | exactly right, exactly what, exactly the same, exactly how, know exactly | That's what I thought, That's what we need, That's what I meant | You're right about that, You know you're right, If you're right, You're definitely right, I'm glad you're right |
| Antonyms | approximately, roughly | - | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Exactly' is often confused with 'correctly' — they have different nuances., Learners sometimes use 'exact' instead of 'exactly' in adverbial contexts., Misplaced in sentences, such as using it at the beginning instead of near the verb. | Using in overly formal situations., Confusing with similar phrases like 'I agree'. | Using 'your' instead of 'you're'., Saying 'you are right' too often instead of using the phrase., Not using it when someone needs agreement. |
| Usage notes | Use 'exactly' to emphasize precision or correctness. It's suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in overly casual conversations where a simpler term may suffice. | Used in casual conversation to agree with someone's thought or opinion. Avoid in very formal settings. | Commonly used to agree with someone. Suitable in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid in argumentative situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Exactly vs That's what I was thinking vs You're right
What's the difference between Exactly, That's what I was thinking, and You're right?
Exactly: In a precise or accurate manner. That's what I was thinking: This means you had the same idea as someone else. You're right: You are correct.
Which is more common: Exactly, That's what I was thinking, and You're right?
Exactly is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Exactly: The instructions say to follow the recipe exactly for the best results. That's what I was thinking: When she suggested pizza for dinner, I said, 'That's what I was thinking.' You're right: When she pointed out the error, I realized she was right.
Can I use Exactly, That's what I was thinking, and You're right interchangeably?
Not always. Exactly, That's what I was thinking, and You're right 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.