Of course vs That figures

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Of course

Top 1,000 (very common)

That figures

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

Most formal: Of course Most common: Of course

	Of course	That figures
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //əv kɔːs// 🇺🇸 //əv kɔrs//	🇬🇧 //ðæt ˈfɪɡəz// 🇺🇸 //ðæt ˈfɪɡərz//
Meaning	Definitely, it's obvious.	That makes sense.
Example	Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course!	When I heard about the delay, I thought, 'That figures.'
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
Collocations	of course not, of course yes, of course you can, of course it is	that makes sense, it figures, that adds up, of course, that is typical
Common mistakes	Using it in formal writing where a different expression is needed., Confusing it with other affirmations like 'certainly' or 'definitely'.	Using it in formal writing or speeches., Confusing it with 'that doesn't figure', which means something doesn't make sense., Overusing it in every situation when agreeing.
Usage notes	Used in informal and formal situations to affirm something obvious. Avoid in highly formal writing.	Use this phrase in casual conversations to indicate agreement or understanding. It’s informal, so avoid it in formal settings.

See it in real clips

Of course.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

You know her, of course.

And, of course, I paid my respect to Bubba himself.

Of course.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

You know her, of course.

Of course

they'd think, "Well, that figures."

That figures

Frequently asked questions: Of course vs That figures

What's the difference between Of course and That figures?

Of course: Definitely, it's obvious. That figures: That makes sense.

Which is more formal: Of course and That figures?

Of course is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Of course and That figures?

Of course is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Of course: Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course! That figures: When I heard about the delay, I thought, 'That figures.'

Can I use Of course and That figures interchangeably?

Not always. Of course and That figures 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.