Shared vs. Common — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 2, 2023
"Shared" refers to something used or owned by multiple people, while "common" describes what is usual, typical, or widely found.
Difference Between Shared and Common
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Shared implies active participation or use by multiple parties. Common means ordinary or prevalent, without the need for shared usage or ownership.
Shared denotes a sense of joint responsibility or mutual usage. Common, on the other hand, suggests something widespread or generally accepted without implying joint use.
Shared resources or experiences involve collaboration or contribution from multiple individuals. Common traits or characteristics are those found regularly or typically in a group.
Shared often has a sense of community and mutual benefit. Common refers to what is standard, usual, or customary, and doesn't necessarily bring people together.
Shared spaces or tools require cooperative management. Common knowledge or practices are understood or followed by most without the need for sharing.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
Used or owned by multiple people
Usual, typical, or widely found
Implication
Joint responsibility or mutual use
Widespread or generally accepted
Involvement
Collaboration or contribution required
No need for shared usage
Sense
Community and mutual benefit
Standard, usual, customary
Management
Cooperative management needed
No need for joint management
Compare with Definitions
Shared
Partaken in by members of a group.
The shared responsibility made the project successful.
Common
Belonging to or affecting the whole.
They worked for the common good.
Shared
Divided among individuals.
The shared resources helped reduce costs.
Common
Ordinary or usual.
It's common practice to shake hands.
Shared
Distributed equally among participants.
The profits were shared equally among partners.
Common
Shared by many.
Common interests brought them together.
Shared
Used or owned by more than one person.
The shared office space fostered collaboration.
Common
Not special or distinguished.
He had a common way of speaking.
Shared
A part or portion belonging to, distributed to, contributed by, or owed by a person or group
The pirates argued over their shares of the treasure.
Common
Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint
Common interests.
Shared
An equitable portion
Do one's share of the work.
Common
Of or relating to the community as a whole; public
For the common good.
Shared
One of the equal parts into which the capital stock of a company is divided
Bought 200 shares of the company's stock.
Common
Widespread; prevalent
Gas stations became common as the use of cars grew.
Shared
A unit of ownership in a mutual fund or other investment vehicle
Bought two shares in a mutual fund.
Common
Occurring frequently or habitually; usual
It is common for movies to last 90 minutes or more.
Shared
Shares Chiefly British Stocks
European shares jumped two percent. The fund invests half the money in bonds and half in shares.
Common
Most widely known; ordinary
The common housefly.
Shared
To accord a share in (something) to another or others
Shared her chocolate bar with a friend.
Common
Having no special designation, status, or rank
A common sailor.
Shared
To divide and parcel out in shares; apportion
Shared the estate among his heirs.
Common
Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average
The common spectator.
Shared
To participate in, use, enjoy, or experience jointly or in turns
Share a responsibility.
Share a room.
Common
Of no special quality; standard
Common procedure.
Shared
To hold or have jointly with another or others
She shares my view about the election.
Common
Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate
Common cloth.
Shared
To relate (a secret or experience, for example) to another or others.
Common
Unrefined or coarse in manner; vulgar
Behavior that branded him as common.
Shared
(Computers) To make (a digital file) accessible to other users on a network, as for copying and downloading.
Common
Either masculine or feminine in gender.
Shared
To have a share or part
Shared in the profits.
Common
Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
Shared
To allow someone to use or enjoy something that one possesses
Being in daycare taught the child to share.
Common
Commons The common people; commonalty.
Shared
To use or enjoy something jointly or in turns
There is only one computer, so we will have to share.
Common
The social class composed of commoners.
Shared
To talk about personal experiences or feelings with others.
Common
The parliamentary representatives of this class.
Shared
Simple past tense and past participle of share
Common
Commons The House of Commons.
Shared
Used by multiple entities or for multiple purposes or in multiple ways.
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.
Shared
Have in common; held or experienced in common;
Two shared valence electrons forming a bond between adjacent nuclei
A shared interest in philately
Common
The legal right of a person to use the lands or waters of another, as for fishing.
Shared
Distributed in portions (often equal) on the basis of a plan or purpose
Common
Commons(used with a sing. verb) A building or hall for dining, typically at a university or college.
Shared
Experienced or enjoyed with others.
They had a shared love for hiking.
Common
Common stock.
Common
(Ecclesiastical) A service used for a particular class of festivals.
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.
Common
Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.
It is common to find sharks off this coast.
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.
Common
Simple, ordinary or vulgar.
Common
(grammar) Of, pertaining or belonging to the common gender.
Common
(grammar) Of or pertaining to common nouns as opposed to proper nouns.
Common
Vernacular, referring to the name of a kind of plant or animal, i.e., common name vs. scientific name.
Common
(obsolete) Profane; polluted.
Common
(obsolete) Given to lewd habits; prostitute.
Common
Mutual good, shared by more than one.
Common
A tract of land in common ownership; common land.
Common
The people; the community.
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.
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
Occurring frequently or widely.
It's common to see birds in the park.
Common Curiosities
Is shared always positive?
Not always, as shared can also refer to shared problems or challenges.
Can something be shared but not common?
Yes, something can be shared by a few without being common.
Is common always ordinary?
Common often means ordinary, but it can also refer to widespread practices or beliefs.
What does "common" mean?
"Common" describes what is usual, typical, or widely found.
Can something be common but not shared?
Yes, something can be common but individually owned or experienced.
What does "shared" mean?
"Shared" refers to something used or owned by multiple people.
Can a feeling be shared?
Yes, feelings can be shared among individuals.
How do shared resources work?
Shared resources are used or managed by multiple individuals or groups.
What is a common mistake?
A common mistake is one that many people make.
Is a shared experience always with others?
Yes, a shared experience involves others by definition.
Can something be too common?
Yes, if something is overly common, it may be seen as ordinary or unremarkable.
What does "common ground" mean?
"Common ground" refers to shared beliefs or interests that unite different parties.
Can shared also mean divided?
Yes, shared can also mean something is divided among people, like shared profits.
What's a shared responsibility?
A shared responsibility is a duty or obligation held by multiple people.
What's an example of common knowledge?
Common knowledge is information known by most, like the earth being round.
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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.
