Cool MateFantastic vs That'd be swell
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fantastic
Top 2,000 (common)A1adjective
That'd be swell
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: FantasticMost common: Fantastic
| Fantastic | That'd be swell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðætəd bi: swɛl//🇺🇸 //ðætəd bi: swɛl// |
| Meaning | Really great or awesome. | That would be great. |
| Example | The movie was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every moment of it. | Getting that promotion? That'd be swell! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, really, truly, utterly, be, look, seem, rather | that'd be great, that'd be awesome, that'd be cool |
| Antonyms | terrible, awful, bad | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'fantastic' to describe negative things, which is incorrect., Mixing up 'fantastic' with 'fantastical', which means imaginary or whimsical., Think it's only for extraordinary situations; it can also be used for nice, everyday experiences. | Overuse in serious conversations where a formal tone is required., Using the word 'swell' in a negative context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'fantastic' in everyday conversation to express that something is very good. It's appropriate for most contexts but can feel overly enthusiastic in formal writing. | Used in casual conversations to express enthusiasm or approval. Avoid in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fantastic vs That'd be swell
What's the difference between Fantastic and That'd be swell?
Fantastic: Really great or awesome. That'd be swell: That would be great.
Which is more formal: Fantastic and That'd be swell?
Fantastic is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Fantastic and That'd be swell?
Fantastic is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Fantastic: The movie was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every moment of it. That'd be swell: Getting that promotion? That'd be swell!
Can I use Fantastic and That'd be swell interchangeably?
Not always. Fantastic 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.