Cool MateExcellent vs It was great
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
It was great
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Excellent | It was great | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪt wəz ɡreɪt//🇺🇸 //ɪt wəz ɡreɪt// |
| Meaning | very good or great | It was very good or enjoyable. |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | The concert last night was great. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | was great fun, was great for, was great experience |
| 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. | Using 'wasn't great' instead of 'it was great' when expressing a positive feeling., Confusing 'great' with 'good' as they can convey slightly different levels of enthusiasm. |
| 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. | Use 'It was great' to express satisfaction or approval about an experience. It's common in informal conversations but also acceptable in casual formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs It was great
What's the difference between Excellent and It was great?
Excellent: very good or great It was great: It was very good or enjoyable.
Can you show an example of each?
Excellent: Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. It was great: The concert last night was great.
Can I use Excellent and It was great interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent and It was great 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.