Cool MateExcellent vs That'd be swell
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
That'd be swell
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: ExcellentMost common: Excellent
| Excellent | That'd be swell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðætəd bi: swɛl//🇺🇸 //ðætəd bi: swɛl// |
| Meaning | very good or great | That would be great. |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | Getting that promotion? That'd be swell! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | that'd be great, that'd be awesome, that'd be cool |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excellent' in a negative context (e.g. 'That was an excellent mistake')., Confusing 'excellent' with 'excellently' (adverb form) in the wrong context., Overusing it when 'good' or 'fine' would suffice. | Overuse in serious conversations where a formal tone is required., Using the word 'swell' in a negative context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'excellent' to describe something that is of very high quality. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler terms might be more fitting. | Used in casual conversations to express enthusiasm or approval. Avoid in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs That'd be swell
What's the difference between Excellent and That'd be swell?
Excellent: very good or great That'd be swell: That would be great.
Which is more formal: Excellent and That'd be swell?
Excellent is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Excellent and That'd be swell?
Excellent is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Excellent: Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. That'd be swell: Getting that promotion? That'd be swell!
Can I use Excellent and That'd be swell interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent 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.