Cool MateExperiment vs I'm going to try something
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Experiment
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
I'm going to try something
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Experiment
| Experiment | I'm going to try something | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈsperɪmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈsperɪmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //aɪm ˈɡəʊɪŋ tə traɪ ˈsʌmθɪŋ//🇺🇸 //aɪm ˈɡoʊɪŋ tə traɪ ˈsʌmθɪŋ// |
| Meaning | A test to find out something new. | I will attempt to do something new. |
| Example | The scientist conducted an experiment to test her hypothesis. | I'm going to try something different for dinner tonight. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | animal, field, laboratory, carry out, conduct, do, confirm something, demonstrate something, find something, by experiment, during an/the experiment, in an/the experiment, animal, field, laboratory, carry out, conduct, do, confirm something, demonstrate something, find something, by experiment, during an/the experiment, in an/the experiment | try something new, try something different, try something exciting |
| Antonyms | certainty, fact | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'experience' which refers to knowledge gained over time., Using 'experiments' as a verb instead of the noun form., Saying 'experimenting of' instead of 'experimenting with'. | Overusing 'try' in formal situations; it's often better to use 'attempt'., Confusing 'try' with 'test'; 'try' implies an effort or experimentation. |
| Usage notes | Used in scientific contexts but can also refer to trying new ideas in everyday life. More formal in academic writing. | Use this phrase when indicating an intention to experiment or do something differently. It's generally informal and suitable for casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Experiment vs I'm going to try something
What's the difference between Experiment and I'm going to try something?
Experiment: A test to find out something new. I'm going to try something: I will attempt to do something new.
Which is more common: Experiment and I'm going to try something?
Experiment is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Experiment: The scientist conducted an experiment to test her hypothesis. I'm going to try something: I'm going to try something different for dinner tonight.
Can I use Experiment and I'm going to try something interchangeably?
Not always. Experiment and I'm going to try something 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.