Common vs. Normal — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 30, 2023
Common denotes frequency or widespread occurrence; normal refers to conformity to a standard or regular pattern.
Difference Between Common and Normal
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Common refers to something that is found or occurs often, ubiquitous, and is therefore not unusual. It denotes prevalence and frequent occurrence. On the contrary, normal pertains to conforming to a standard, usual, typical, or expected pattern or condition.
A thing that is common can be observed in many places or among many people. For instance, it's common to find cars in urban areas. Normal, however, does not imply frequency but suggests that something is according with established norms or standards, like having a normal body temperature of 98.6°F.
Common can be synonymous with shared by, belonging to or shared by two or more entities. A common area in a building is accessible to all residents. Normal, in mathematics, refers to being perpendicular; it has specific implications of maintaining a perpendicular position or relation, which is very different from being common.
When common is used to describe something, it may not always have a positive connotation, as it can mean ordinary or lacking distinction. Whereas normal is generally perceived as positive, as it implies stability and conformity to what is socially or culturally accepted.
In summary, common is more about frequency and widespread occurrence, while normal is about conforming to established patterns, standards, or expectations.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Frequent or widespread
Conforming to a standard
Connotation
Can be neutral or negative
Usually positive
Mathematical Usage
Not specifically applicable
Refers to perpendicularity
Usage in Grammar
Describes shared attributes
Describes standard conditions
Contextual Implication
Ubiquity or prevalence
Regularity or typicality
Compare with Definitions
Common
Ordinary; of frequent occurrence.
Eating at restaurants is common in big cities.
Normal
Psychologically and physically healthy.
After the trauma, it took her a while to feel normal again.
Common
Shared by, or belonging to two or more.
The kitchen was a common area shared by all the housemates.
Normal
Standard; used, serving, or occurring as a usual or regular equivalent.
Adjust the settings to normal mode.
Common
Usual; customary.
It is common to shake hands when meeting someone for the first time.
Normal
Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical
Normal room temperature.
One's normal weight.
Normal diplomatic relations.
Common
Lacking special distinction; ordinary.
He had the common look of a regular office worker.
Normal
(Biology) Functioning or occurring in a natural way; lacking observable abnormalities or deficiencies.
Common
Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint
Common interests.
Normal
Relating to or designating the normality of a solution.
Common
Of or relating to the community as a whole; public
For the common good.
Normal
Abbr. n Designating an aliphatic hydrocarbon having an acyclic unbranched chain of carbon atoms.
Common
Widespread; prevalent
Gas stations became common as the use of cars grew.
Normal
Being at right angles; perpendicular.
Common
Occurring frequently or habitually; usual
It is common for movies to last 90 minutes or more.
Normal
Perpendicular to the direction of a tangent line to a curve or a tangent plane to a surface.
Common
Most widely known; ordinary
The common housefly.
Normal
Relating to or characterized by average intelligence or development.
Common
Having no special designation, status, or rank
A common sailor.
Normal
Free from mental illness; sane.
Common
Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average
The common spectator.
Normal
The usual, expected, or standard state, form, amount, or degree
Temperatures have been above normal for this time of year.
Common
Of no special quality; standard
Common procedure.
Normal
(Mathematics) A perpendicular, especially a perpendicular to a line tangent to a plane curve or to a plane tangent to a space curve.
Common
Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate
Common cloth.
Normal
According to norms or rules or to a regular pattern.
Organize the data into third normal form.
Common
Unrefined or coarse in manner; vulgar
Behavior that branded him as common.
Normal
(mathematics) Adhering to or being what is considered natural or regular in a particular field or context:
Common
Either masculine or feminine in gender.
Normal
Usual, healthy; not sick or ill or unlike oneself.
John is feeling normal again.
Common
Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
Normal
Teaching teachers how to teach to certain norms
My grandmother attended Mankato State Normal School.
Common
Commons The common people; commonalty.
Normal
(chemistry) Of, relating to, or being a solution containing one equivalent weight of solute per litre of solution.
Common
The social class composed of commoners.
Normal
(organic chemistry) Describing a straight chain isomer of an aliphatic hydrocarbon, or an aliphatic compound in which a substituent is in the 1- position of such a hydrocarbon.
Common
The parliamentary representatives of this class.
Normal
In which all parts of an object vibrate at the same frequency normal mode]].
Common
Commons The House of Commons.
Normal
In the default position, set for the most frequently used route.
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.
Normal
(geometry) Perpendicular to a tangent of a curve or derivative of a surface.
The interior normal vector of an ideal perfect sphere will always point toward the center, and the exterior normal vector directly away, and both will always be co-linear with the ray whose' tip ends at the point of intersection, which is the intersection of all three sets of points.
Common
The legal right of a person to use the lands or waters of another, as for fishing.
Normal
(geometry) A line or vector that is perpendicular to another line, surface, or plane.
Common
Commons(used with a sing. verb) A building or hall for dining, typically at a university or college.
Normal
A person who is healthy, normal, as opposed to one who is morbid.
Common
Common stock.
Normal
A person who is normal, who fits into mainstream society, as opposed to those who live alternative lifestyles.
Common
(Ecclesiastical) A service used for a particular class of festivals.
Normal
The usual state.
His workload is now back to normal.
Heavy workload is the new normal.
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.
Normal
According to an established norm, rule, or principle; conformed to a type, standard, or regular form; performing the proper functions; not abnormal; regular; natural; analogical.
Deviations from the normal type.
Common
Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.
It is common to find sharks off this coast.
Normal
According to a square or rule; perpendicular; forming a right angle; as, a line normal to the base. Specifically: Of or pertaining to a normal.
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.
Normal
Standard; original; exact; typical.
Common
Simple, ordinary or vulgar.
Normal
Any perpendicular.
Common
(grammar) Of, pertaining or belonging to the common gender.
Normal
A straight line or plane drawn from any point of a curve or surface so as to be perpendicular to the curve or surface at that point.
Common
(grammar) Of or pertaining to common nouns as opposed to proper nouns.
Normal
Something regarded as a normative example;
The convention of not naming the main character
Violence is the rule not the exception
His formula for impressing visitors
Common
Vernacular, referring to the name of a kind of plant or animal, i.e., common name vs. scientific name.
Normal
Conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal;
Serve wine at normal room temperature
Normal diplomatic relations
Normal working hours
Normal word order
Normal curiosity
The normal course of events
Common
(obsolete) Profane; polluted.
Normal
In accordance with scientific laws
Common
(obsolete) Given to lewd habits; prostitute.
Normal
Being approximately average or within certain limits in e.g. intelligence and development;
A perfectly normal child
Of normal intelligence
The most normal person I've ever met
Common
Mutual good, shared by more than one.
Normal
Forming a right angle
Common
A tract of land in common ownership; common land.
Normal
Conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.
The train is running late; it normally arrives on time.
Common
The people; the community.
Normal
Perpendicular or at right angles.
The line is normal to the plane.
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.
Normal
Regular; conforming to the norm.
A normal workday lasts eight hours.
Common
(obsolete) To communicate (something).
Common
(obsolete) To converse, talk.
Common
(obsolete) To have sex.
Common
(obsolete) To participate.
Common
(obsolete) To have a joint right with others in common ground.
Common
(obsolete) To board together; to eat at a table in common.
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.
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.
Common
Often met with; usual; frequent; customary.
Grief more than common grief.
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.
Common
Profane; polluted.
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Common
Given to habits of lewdness; prostitute.
A dame who herself was common.
Common
The people; the community.
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.
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.
Common
To converse together; to discourse; to confer.
Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were commoned of.
Common
To participate.
Common
To have a joint right with others in common ground.
Common
To board together; to eat at a table in common.
Common
A piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area;
They went for a walk in the park
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
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
Common
Common to or shared by two or more parties;
A common friend
The mutual interests of management and labor
Common
Commonly encountered;
A common (or familiar) complaint
The usual greeting
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
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
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
Widespread; prevalent.
Common cold is highly contagious.
Common Curiosities
Can common refer to shared attributes?
Yes, it can refer to attributes or entities shared by two or more.
Is common always used in a positive context?
No, it can have a neutral or negative connotation.
Does normal mean frequent?
No, normal refers to conformity to a standard or regular pattern.
Can something be common but not normal?
Yes, something can be common (frequent) but not normal (conforming to a standard).
Is common synonymous with ordinary?
Yes, it can mean ordinary or lacking special distinction.
Does normal imply stability?
Yes, normal often implies stability and conformity to what is socially or culturally accepted.
Can normal have specific mathematical usage?
Yes, it refers to being perpendicular in mathematics.
Is normal always positive?
Typically, yes. It generally implies conformity to established norms and is perceived as positive.
What does common usually denote?
It usually denotes frequency or widespread occurrence.
Can common refer to shared spaces?
Yes, it can refer to areas or attributes shared by two or more entities.
Can something be normal but not common?
Yes, something can be normal (conforming to a standard) but not common (frequent or widespread).
Is common the same as popular?
While both imply prevalence, common may lack the positive connotation that popular usually carries.
Is normal synonymous with regular?
Yes, normal can mean regular or conforming to the norm.
Is a normal condition the same as a standard condition?
Yes, a normal condition generally aligns with standard or expected conditions.
Can common imply ubiquity?
Yes, common often implies ubiquity or prevalence.
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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.
