awfully cool

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awfully cool" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is surprisingly impressive or enjoyable, often with a hint of irony. Example: "The new technology they developed is awfully cool, and I can't wait to see how it changes our daily lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But it's awfully cool.

The New York Times - Tech

Even so, they were awfully cool.

The New York Times - Tech

I'm sure you'll find it awfully cool and pleasant here during August.

The New Yorker

"I'm obviously biased toward the online worlds," Koster said, "but the fact that I'll never encounter someone else's galactic empire that actually has some human brain behind it depresses me a little, because that would be awfully cool — especially with the scope and scale we're talking about with Spore".

The New York Times - Magazine

Its little compartments and passageways are more suited to tetras and goldfish than whale sharks (alas), but it's still an awfully cool little thing.

TechCrunch

It's worth pointing out that there's quite a bit at play in terms of software here — neat UI flourishes, the ability to open and position multiple app windows, and an awfully cool Phone Manager app all round out the experience nicely.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Like Steven Soderbergh, another cool, crafty dissembler, Mr. Boyle is awfully clever, which can be a great strength as well as a weakness.

The New York Times

Among his creative models for the project, Mr. Hanks cited the original 1960s television incarnation of "Star Trek," which he called "an awfully good adventure" with "a bunch of cool stuff that you can latch onto".

The New York Times - Arts

"But it's an awfully long way out there when it's cool and it's late at night".

The New York Times - Sports

"Awfully restless night," she continued rapidly, "and now he's cooled down completely.

The New Yorker

A crinkled black leather vest with a hood from the Roman designer m.a.+ is awfully chic ($1,498), and the handmade and distressed flat black boots by Guidi are cool in a military sort of way ($1,280-$1,280-$1,498

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully cool" to express genuine surprise and admiration, but be mindful of your audience, as it might come off as informal in professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "awfully cool" in formal writing or presentations. Opt for more professional alternatives like "extremely impressive" or "remarkably pleasant" to maintain a suitable tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully cool" functions as an adverb-adjective combination to describe something as surprisingly or impressively cool. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "awfully cool" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that falls into the category of an adverb + adjective phrase. It's primarily used to express surprise or admiration for something considered impressive or enjoyable. While Ludwig AI validates its correctness, it's important to remember that its informal register makes it more suitable for casual settings than formal writing. More professional synonyms might be a better choice in formal contexts. The phrase is most common in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Terribly exciting

Uses "terribly" as an intensifier, similar to "awfully", to express great excitement.

Extremely impressive

Shifts the focus from coolness to impressiveness, suggesting a high degree of admiration.

Remarkably pleasant

Emphasizes the enjoyable aspect, moving away from the trendiness implied by "cool".

Surprisingly delightful

Highlights the unexpected nature of the enjoyment.

Quite admirable

Replaces "cool" with a more formal term suggesting respect and approval.

Really fascinating

Focuses on the captivating or intriguing quality of something.

Notably appealing

Highlights the attractiveness or charm of something in a more formal way.

Intensely satisfying

Emphasizes the high degree of satisfaction derived from something.

Unusually captivating

Stresses the unique and engaging nature of something.

Exceptionally agreeable

Focuses on how pleasant and easy to like something is.

FAQs

How can I use "awfully cool" in a sentence?

"Awfully cool" is used to describe something surprisingly impressive or enjoyable. For example, "That new gadget is "awfully cool"!"

What are some alternatives to "awfully cool"?

You can use alternatives such as "extremely impressive", "surprisingly delightful", or "remarkably pleasant" depending on the specific context.

Is "awfully cool" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "awfully cool" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, it's better to use more professional alternatives.

What does "awfully" mean in the phrase "awfully cool"?

In this context, "awfully" acts as an intensifier, similar to "very" or "extremely", emphasizing the degree to which something is cool.