Usual vs. General — What's the Difference?

Commonly encountered, experienced, or observed

Affecting or concerning all or most people or things; widespread

Regularly or customarily used

Considering or including only the main features or elements of something; not exact or detailed

In conformity with regular practice or procedure

Chief or principal

Most commonly occurring; typical.

A commander of an army, or an army officer of very high rank.

The typical state of something, or something that is typical.

The general public.

(colloquial) A specific good or service (e.g. a drink) that someone typically orders.

Concerned with, applicable to, or affecting the whole or every member of a class or category

Such as is in common use; such as occurs in ordinary practice, or in the ordinary course of events; customary; ordinary; habitual; common.

Affecting or characteristic of the majority of those involved; prevalent

Occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure;

Of or affecting the entire body

Commonly encountered;

Being usually the case; true or applicable in most instances but not all

Not limited in scope, area, or application

Not limited to or dealing with one class of things; diversified

Involving only the main features rather than precise details

Highest or superior in rank

A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above lieutenant general.

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

A general officer.

A statement, principle, or fact that embraces or is applicable to the whole.

General anesthesia.

(Archaic) The public.

Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole etc.; as opposed to specific or particular.

Applied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms; pre-eminent.

Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual.

Not limited in use or application; applicable to the whole or every member of a class or category.

Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite.

Not limited to a specific class; miscellaneous, concerned with all branches of a given subject or area.

A general fact or proposition; a generality.

(military ranks) The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces.

A great strategist or tactician.

(Christianity) The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits.

(nautical) A commander of naval forces; an admiral.

A general servant; a maid with no specific duties.

(countable) A general anesthetic.

(uncountable) General anesthesia.

The general insurance industry.

(xiangqi) A xiangqi piece, that is moved one point orthogonally and confined within the palace.

To lead (soldiers) as a general.

(obsolete) In a general or collective manner or sense; in most cases; upon the whole.

Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable economy.

Comprehending many species or individuals; not special or particular; including all particulars; as, a general inference or conclusion.

Not restrained or limited to a precise import; not specific; vague; indefinite; lax in signification; as, a loose and general expression.

Common to many, or the greatest number; widely spread; prevalent; extensive, though not universal; as, a general opinion; a general custom.

Having a relation to all; common to the whole; as, Adam, our general sire.

As a whole; in gross; for the most part.

Usual; common, on most occasions; as, his general habit or method.

The whole; the total; that which comprehends or relates to all, or the chief part; - opposed to particular.

One of the chief military officers of a government or country; the commander of an army, of a body of men not less than a brigade. In European armies, the highest military rank next below field marshal.

The roll of the drum which calls the troops together; as, to beat the general.

The chief of an order of monks, or of all the houses or congregations under the same rule.

The public; the people; the vulgar.

A general officer of the highest rank

The head of a religious order or congregation

A fact about the whole (as opposed to particular);

Command as a general;

Applying to all or most members of a category or group;

Not specialized or limited to one class of things;

Of national scope;

Prevailing among and common to the general public;

Affecting the entire body;

Somewhat indefinite;

Of worldwide scope or applicability;