Average vs. Common — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 1, 2024
Average implies a value obtained by dividing the total by the number of quantities, while common suggests something usual or frequently found.
Difference Between Average and Common
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Average is a statistical concept used to find the central value of a set of numbers by adding them together and dividing by the count of these numbers. On the other hand, common refers to something that is found frequently or is widely accepted and used, indicating prevalence rather than a mathematical calculation.
While average often pertains to numerical data and its analysis to understand trends or central tendencies in datasets, common is used to describe occurrences, behaviors, or items that are typical within a particular context or society.
The term average is crucial in fields like mathematics, economics, and science, where precise calculations are necessary to interpret data. Conversely, common is widely used in everyday language to convey the normality or regularity of certain aspects without needing numerical evidence.
In discussions about people's characteristics or societal trends, average can describe the midpoint of a range of variations, such as average height or income. In contrast, common might refer to traits or practices shared by a large portion of a population, like common interests or common knowledge.
The understanding of average requires a basic knowledge of arithmetic and statistics, as it involves calculations to determine. Meanwhile, recognizing what is common does not require mathematical skills but rather an observation of patterns or behaviors in a specific environment.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A numerical value representing the central or typical value in a set of data.
Frequently encountered or widely accepted; not rare.
Context
Primarily used in statistical and mathematical analysis.
Used in general language to describe prevalence.
Requirement for understanding
Basic mathematical knowledge for calculation.
Observational skills to recognize widespread patterns.
Example fields of application
Mathematics, economics, science.
Everyday language, sociology, psychology.
Implication of usage
Indicates a method of finding a central tendency.
Indicates normality or widespread acceptance.
Compare with Definitions
Average
Represents a method of smoothing out data.
He averaged 20 points per game last season.
Common
Suggests something not unusual or exceptional.
It's common knowledge that the Earth orbits the Sun.
Average
A calculation indicating the central or typical value in a set of numbers.
The average age of the students in the class is 12 years.
Common
Refers to something frequently found or widespread.
It is common to see birds in this park.
Average
Often used to summarize data points.
The average temperature in July was 75°F.
Common
Indicates widespread acceptance or use.
Smartphones are a common tool for communication.
Average
Can indicate mediocrity, not excelling.
His performance was just average.
Common
Describes shared features or characteristics.
Common interests can strengthen friendships.
Average
Requires division of the sum of all values by their count.
To find the average, add all numbers and divide by the number of numbers.
Common
Can denote something ordinary or typical.
It's common for startups to face financial challenges.
Average
In colloquial language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a non-empty list of numbers. Different concepts of average are used in different contexts.
Common
Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint
Common interests.
Average
A number expressing the central or typical value in a set of data, in particular the mode, median, or (most commonly) the mean, which is calculated by dividing the sum of the values in the set by their number
The proportion of over-60s is above the EU average of 19 per cent
Common
Of or relating to the community as a whole; public
For the common good.
Average
The apportionment of financial liability resulting from loss of or damage to a ship or its cargo.
Common
Widespread; prevalent
Gas stations became common as the use of cars grew.
Average
Constituting the result obtained by adding together several amounts and then dividing this total by the number of amounts
The average temperature in May was 4°C below normal
Common
Occurring frequently or habitually; usual
It is common for movies to last 90 minutes or more.
Average
Amount to or achieve as an average rate or amount over a period of time; mean
Annual inflation averaged 2.4 per cent
Common
Most widely known; ordinary
The common housefly.
Average
A number that typifies a set of numbers of which it is a function.
Common
Having no special designation, status, or rank
A common sailor.
Average
See arithmetic mean.
Common
Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average
The common spectator.
Average
An intermediate level or degree
Near the average in size.
Common
Of no special quality; standard
Common procedure.
Average
The usual or ordinary kind or quality
Although the wines vary, the average is quite good.
Common
Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate
Common cloth.
Average
(Sports)The ratio of a team's or player's successful performances such as wins, hits, or goals, divided by total opportunities for successful performance, such as games, times at bat, or shots
Finished the season with a .500 average.
A batting average of .274.
Common
Unrefined or coarse in manner; vulgar
Behavior that branded him as common.
Average
The loss of a ship or cargo, caused by damage at sea.
Common
Either masculine or feminine in gender.
Average
The incurrence of damage or loss of a ship or cargo at sea.
Common
Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
Average
The equitable distribution of such a loss among concerned parties.
Common
Commons The common people; commonalty.
Average
A charge incurred through such a loss.
Common
The social class composed of commoners.
Average
(Nautical)Small expenses or charges that are usually paid by the master of a ship.
Common
The parliamentary representatives of this class.
Average
(Mathematics)Of, relating to, or constituting an average.
Common
Commons The House of Commons.
Average
Being intermediate between extremes, as on a scale
A movie of average length.
A player of average ability.
Common
A tract of land, usually in a centrally located spot, belonging to or used by a community as a whole
A band concert on the village common.
Average
Usual or ordinary in kind or character
A poll of average people.
Average eyesight.
Common
The legal right of a person to use the lands or waters of another, as for fishing.
Average
Assessed in accordance with the law of averages.
Common
Commons(used with a sing. verb) A building or hall for dining, typically at a university or college.
Average
(Mathematics)To calculate the average of
Average a set of numbers.
Common
Common stock.
Average
To do or have an average of
Averaged three hours of work a day.
Common
(Ecclesiastical) A service used for a particular class of festivals.
Average
To distribute proportionately
Average one's income over four years so as to minimize the tax rate.
Common
Mutual; shared by more than one.
The two competitors have the common aim of winning the championship.
Winning the championship is an aim common to the two competitors.
Average
To be or amount to an average
Some sparrows are six inches long, but they average smaller. Our expenses averaged out to 45 dollars per day.
Common
Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.
It is common to find sharks off this coast.
Average
(mathematics) The arithmetic mean.
2=The average of 10, 20 and 24 is (10 + 20 + 24)/3 = 18.
Common
Found in large numbers or in a large quantity; usual.
Commoner used to be commoner, but more common is now more common.
Sharks are common in these waters.
It differs from the common blackbird in the size of its beak.
Average
(statistics) Any measure of central tendency, especially any mean, the median, or the mode.
Common
Simple, ordinary or vulgar.
Average
Financial loss due to damage to transported goods; compensation for damage or loss.
Common
(grammar) Of, pertaining or belonging to the common gender.
Average
Customs duty or similar charge payable on transported goods.
Common
(grammar) Of or pertaining to common nouns as opposed to proper nouns.
Average
Proportional or equitable distribution of financial expense.
Common
Vernacular, referring to the name of a kind of plant or animal, i.e., common name vs. scientific name.
Average
(sports) An indication of a player's ability calculated from his scoring record, etc.
Batting average
Common
(obsolete) Profane; polluted.
Average
In the corn trade, the medial price of the several kinds of grain in the principal corn markets.
Common
(obsolete) Given to lewd habits; prostitute.
Average
The service that a tenant owed his lord, to be done by the animals of the tenant, such as the transportation of wheat, turf, etc.
Common
Mutual good, shared by more than one.
Average
(not comparable) Constituting or relating to the average.
The average age of the participants was 18.5.
Common
A tract of land in common ownership; common land.
Average
Neither very good nor very bad; rated somewhere in the middle of all others in the same category.
I soon found I was only an average chess player.
Common
The people; the community.
Average
Typical.
The average family will not need the more expensive features of this product.
Common
(legal) The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common either with the owner or with other persons; so called from the community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other commoners entitled to the same right.
Average
(informal) Not outstanding, not good, banal; bad or poor.
Common
(obsolete) To communicate (something).
Average
(transitive) To compute the average of, especially the arithmetic mean.
If you average 10, 20 and 24, you get 18.
Common
(obsolete) To converse, talk.
Average
(transitive) Over a period of time or across members of a population, to have or generate a mean value of.
The daily high temperature last month averaged 15°C.
I averaged 75% in my examinations this year.
Common
(obsolete) To participate.
Average
(transitive) To divide among a number, according to a given proportion.
To average a loss
Common
(obsolete) To have a joint right with others in common ground.
Average
(intransitive) To be, generally or on average.
Common
(obsolete) To board together; to eat at a table in common.
Average
That service which a tenant owed his lord, to be done by the work beasts of the tenant, as the carriage of wheat, turf, etc.
Common
Belonging or relating equally, or similarly, to more than one; as, you and I have a common interest in the property.
Though life and sense be common to men and brutes.
Average
A tariff or duty on goods, etc.
Common
Belonging to or shared by, affecting or serving, all the members of a class, considered together; general; public; as, properties common to all plants; the common schools; the Book of Common Prayer.
Such actions as the common good requireth.
The common enemy of man.
Average
A mean proportion, medial sum or quantity, made out of unequal sums or quantities; an arithmetical mean. Thus, if A loses 5 dollars, B 9, and C 16, the sum is 30, and the average 10.
Common
Often met with; usual; frequent; customary.
Grief more than common grief.
Average
Any medial estimate or general statement derived from a comparison of diverse specific cases; a medium or usual size, quantity, quality, rate, etc.
Common
Not distinguished or exceptional; inconspicuous; ordinary; plebeian; - often in a depreciatory sense.
The honest, heart-felt enjoyment of common life.
This fact was infamousAnd ill beseeming any common man,Much more a knight, a captain and a leader.
Above the vulgar flight of common souls.
Average
In the English corn trade, the medial price of the several kinds of grain in the principal corn markets.
Common
Profane; polluted.
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Average
Pertaining to an average or mean; medial; containing a mean proportion; of a mean size, quality, ability, etc.; ordinary; usual; as, an average rate of profit; an average amount of rain; the average Englishman; beings of the average stamp.
Common
Given to habits of lewdness; prostitute.
A dame who herself was common.
Average
According to the laws of averages; as, the loss must be made good by average contribution.
Common
The people; the community.
Average
To find the mean of, when sums or quantities are unequal; to reduce to a mean.
Common
An inclosed or uninclosed tract of ground for pleasure, for pasturage, etc., the use of which belongs to the public; or to a number of persons.
Average
To divide among a number, according to a given proportion; as, to average a loss.
Common
The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common either with the owner or with other persons; - so called from the community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other commoners entitled to the same right.
Average
To do, accomplish, get, etc., on an average.
Common
To converse together; to discourse; to confer.
Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were commoned of.
Average
To form, or exist in, a mean or medial sum or quantity; to amount to, or to be, on an average; as, the losses of the owners will average twenty five dollars each; these spars average ten feet in length.
Common
To participate.
Average
A statistic describing the location of a distribution;
It set the norm for American homes
Common
To have a joint right with others in common ground.
Average
Amount to or come to an average, without loss or gain;
The number of hours I work per work averages out to 40
Common
To board together; to eat at a table in common.
Average
Achieve or reach on average;
He averaged a C
Common
A piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area;
They went for a walk in the park
Average
Compute the average of
Common
Belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public;
For the common good
Common lands are set aside for use by all members of a community
Average
Approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value;
The average income in New England is below that of the nation
Of average height for his age
The mean annual rainfall
Common
Of no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual;
The common man
A common sailor
The common cold
A common nuisance
Followed common procedure
It is common knowledge that she lives alone
The common housefly
A common brand of soap
Average
Lacking special distinction, rank, or status; commonly encountered;
Average people
The ordinary (or common) man in the street
Common
Common to or shared by two or more parties;
A common friend
The mutual interests of management and labor
Average
Of no exceptional quality or ability;
A novel of average merit
Only a fair performance of the sonata
In fair health
The caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average
The performance was middling at best
Common
Commonly encountered;
A common (or familiar) complaint
The usual greeting
Average
Around the middle of a scale of evaluation of physical measures;
An orange of average size
Intermediate capacity
A plane with intermediate range
Medium bombers
Common
Being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language;
Common parlance
A vernacular term
Vernacular speakers
The vulgar tongue of the masses
The technical and vulgar names for an animal species
Average
Relating to or constituting the most frequent value in a distribution;
The modal age at which American novelists reach their peak is 30
Common
Of or associated with the great masses of people;
The common people in those days suffered greatly
Behavior that branded him as common
His square plebeian nose
A vulgar and objectionable person
The unwashed masses
Average
Relating to or constituting the middle value of an ordered set of values (or the average of the middle two in an even-numbered set);
The median value of 17, 20, and 36 is 20
The median income for the year was $15,000
Common
Of low or inferior quality or value;
Of what coarse metal ye are molded
Produced...the common cloths used by the poorer population
Common
Lacking refinement or cultivation or taste;
He had coarse manners but a first-rate mind
Behavior that branded him as common
An untutored and uncouth human being
An uncouth soldier--a real tough guy
Appealing to the vulgar taste for violence
The vulgar display of the newly rich
Common
To be expected; standard;
Common decency
Common Curiosities
What does average mean in mathematics?
In mathematics, average refers to the mean, calculated by adding all values in a set and dividing by the number of values.
What is an example of something common?
Cold weather is common in winter in many parts of the world.
What makes something common in a culture?
Traditions, practices, or beliefs that are widely shared and practiced make something common in a culture.
Can something be average but not common?
Yes, an average value can be statistically derived but not commonly encountered in everyday situations.
Why is understanding averages important?
Understanding averages is important for interpreting data sets and making informed decisions based on them.
How does average impact decision making?
Averages provide a central tendency that can guide decisions in policy, business, and personal finance.
Is the median also an average?
The median is a type of average, specifically the middle value in a sorted list of numbers, different from the mean.
How do you calculate the average?
Calculate the average by adding all the values together and dividing by the total number of values.
Is common always normal?
While common indicates frequent occurrence, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the norm or ideal in every context.
Does average value indicate quality?
Average value provides a midpoint of data but doesn't necessarily indicate quality or desirability.
Can common things be unique in some aspects?
Yes, common things can have unique aspects that differentiate them within their widespread occurrence.
How does one determine if something is common knowledge?
Common knowledge is determined by whether most people in a group or society are aware of it without needing to look it up.
What role does average play in sports statistics?
In sports, averages are used to quantify player performance, such as batting averages in baseball.
Are common elements always average?
Common elements in a set or group may not be average; they are simply frequently occurring or widely accepted.
Can common practices change over time?
Yes, as societies evolve, what is considered common practice can change.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
