Cool MateGreat vs That'd be swell
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Great
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That'd be swell
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: GreatMost common: Great
| Great | That'd be swell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðætəd bi: swɛl//🇺🇸 //ðætəd bi: swɛl// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | That would be great. |
| Example | This pizza is great and very tasty! | Getting that promotion? That'd be swell! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, really, truly, very, be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great | that'd be great, that'd be awesome, that'd be cool |
| Antonyms | terrible, poor, bad | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'great' in a sarcastic way without context., Confusing 'great' with 'grate' when writing., Overusing 'great' instead of finding more specific adjectives. | Overuse in serious conversations where a formal tone is required., Using the word 'swell' in a negative context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'great' to describe something positive or impressive. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in a sarcastic tone, as it can change the meaning. | Used in casual conversations to express enthusiasm or approval. Avoid in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Great vs That'd be swell
What's the difference between Great and That'd be swell?
Great: very good or impressive That'd be swell: That would be great.
Which is more formal: Great and That'd be swell?
Great is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Great and That'd be swell?
Great is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Great: This pizza is great and very tasty! That'd be swell: Getting that promotion? That'd be swell!
Can I use Great and That'd be swell interchangeably?
Not always. Great 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.