Common vs. Normal: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Common refers to something that is frequent, usual, or shared by many, whereas normal pertains to what is typical, standard, or expected in a given context.
Key Differences
Common indicates something that is frequently encountered or widely experienced, suggesting prevalence. Normal, however, refers to something conforming to a standard, implying it is usual or expected in a certain situation.
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Dec 07, 2023
Common can be used to describe shared characteristics or experiences among a group, signifying similarity or ubiquity. Normal is often used to describe what is customary or regular, indicating conformity to an established pattern or average.
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Something common may not necessarily be normal; for instance, a common cold is widespread but not a normal state of health. Conversely, something normal is not always common; for example, a normal body temperature can vary from person to person.
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In societal terms, common behaviors or beliefs are those widely observed or agreed upon, while normal behaviors or beliefs are those that are deemed acceptable or standard by societal norms.
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In statistical terms, common refers to the frequency of occurrence, whereas normal can refer to a distribution that follows a specific, predictable pattern, such as the normal distribution in statistics.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Frequently encountered or widespread
Conforming to a standard or expectation
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Usage Context
Describes prevalence or shared attributes
Describes conformity to a standard
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Relation to Norms
May diverge from what is considered normal
Usually aligns with what is considered standard
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Statistical Meaning
Frequency of occurrence
Adherence to a predictable pattern
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Common and Normal Definitions
Common
Frequently found or occurring.
Rain is a common occurrence in the tropics.
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Normal
Conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.
It's normal to feel tired after a long day.
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Common
Widespread, usual, or familiar.
Smartphones are a common sight nowadays.
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Normal
Free from any mental disorder; sane.
Despite the stress, he remained completely normal.
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Common
Belonging to or involving the whole of a community or the public.
The local library is a common resource for residents.
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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.
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Common
Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint
Common interests.
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Normal
(Biology) Functioning or occurring in a natural way; lacking observable abnormalities or deficiencies.
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Common
Of or relating to the community as a whole; public
For the common good.
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Common
Widespread; prevalent
Gas stations became common as the use of cars grew.
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Normal
Abbr. n Designating an aliphatic hydrocarbon having an acyclic unbranched chain of carbon atoms.
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Common
Occurring frequently or habitually; usual
It is common for movies to last 90 minutes or more.
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Normal
Perpendicular to the direction of a tangent line to a curve or a tangent plane to a surface.
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Normal
Relating to or characterized by average intelligence or development.
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Common
Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average
The common spectator.
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Normal
The usual, expected, or standard state, form, amount, or degree
Temperatures have been above normal for this time of year.
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Normal
(Mathematics) A perpendicular, especially a perpendicular to a line tangent to a plane curve or to a plane tangent to a space curve.
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Common
Unrefined or coarse in manner; vulgar
Behavior that branded him as common.
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Normal
According to norms or rules or to a regular pattern.
Organize the data into third normal form.
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Normal
(mathematics) Adhering to or being what is considered natural or regular in a particular field or context:
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Common
Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity.
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Normal
Usual, healthy; not sick or ill or unlike oneself.
John is feeling normal again.
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Normal
Teaching teachers how to teach to certain norms
My grandmother attended Mankato State Normal School.
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Normal
(chemistry) Of, relating to, or being a solution containing one equivalent weight of solute per litre of solution.
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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.
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Normal
In which all parts of an object vibrate at the same frequency normal mode]].
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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.
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Common
The legal right of a person to use the lands or waters of another, as for fishing.
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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.
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Common
Commons(used with a sing. verb) A building or hall for dining, typically at a university or college.
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Normal
(geometry) A line or vector that is perpendicular to another line, surface, or plane.
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Common
(Ecclesiastical) A service used for a particular class of festivals.
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Normal
A person who is normal, who fits into mainstream society, as opposed to those who live alternative lifestyles.
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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.
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Normal
The usual state.
His workload is now back to normal.
Heavy workload is the new normal.
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Common
Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.
It is common to find sharks off this coast.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Common
(grammar) Of or pertaining to common nouns as opposed to proper nouns.
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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.
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Common
Vernacular, referring to the name of a kind of plant or animal, i.e., common name vs. scientific name.
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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
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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
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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
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Normal
Of a usual or regular pattern; not abnormal.
Her vital signs are all normal.
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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.
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Normal
Relating to an average or a standard distribution in statistics.
The test scores followed a normal distribution.
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Normal
Natural or expected under the circumstances.
A little anxiety before a big test is perfectly normal.
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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.
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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.
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Common
Often met with; usual; frequent; customary.
Grief more than common grief.
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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.
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Common
Profane; polluted.
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
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Common
Given to habits of lewdness; prostitute.
A dame who herself was common.
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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.
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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.
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Common
To converse together; to discourse; to confer.
Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were commoned of.
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Common
A piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area;
They went for a walk in the park
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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
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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
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Common
Common to or shared by two or more parties;
A common friend
The mutual interests of management and labor
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Common
Commonly encountered;
A common (or familiar) complaint
The usual greeting
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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
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Common
Of low or inferior quality or value;
Of what coarse metal ye are molded
Produced...the common cloths used by the poorer population
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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
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Common
Shared by, coming from, or done by more than one.
The park is a common meeting place for the community.
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Common
Ordinary or typical; not special.
It's common for students to feel nervous before exams.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the definition of normal?
Normal means conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.
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What is an example of normal in a sentence?
"It's normal for the leaves to change color in autumn."
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Is normal always common?
Not necessarily; normal refers to what's standard, which isn't always widespread.
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Dec 07, 2023
Does normal mean average?
Normal can imply average or typical, but it's more about adherence to a standard.
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Dec 07, 2023
What does common mean?
Common refers to something frequently found or widespread.
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Can common refer to shared traits?
Yes, common can describe characteristics shared by a group.
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Can the meaning of normal change over time?
Yes, what is considered normal can evolve with societal changes.
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Dec 07, 2023
Does common always mean ordinary?
Common often implies ordinariness, but not exclusively so.
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Are common and normal synonyms?
They can be in some contexts, but they have distinct meanings.
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Is common a judgmental term?
Common is descriptive, not necessarily judgmental.
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Can something be common but not normal?
Yes, something can be common (widespread) without being normal (standard).
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Are common things always easy to find?
Generally, yes, as common implies widespread availability.
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Can normal be subjective?
Yes, what's normal can vary based on personal or cultural perspectives.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can something be abnormal yet common?
Yes, something can be common (frequent) but not conform to the usual standard (abnormal).
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Is normal a scientific term?
Normal is used in science, particularly in statistics, to describe standard distributions.
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Does common have a negative connotation?
Common can have a neutral or slightly negative connotation, depending on context.
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Can normal be used to describe health conditions?
Yes, normal is often used to describe typical or expected health states.
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Is it possible for something to be uncommon yet normal?
Yes, something can be less frequent (uncommon) but still within the usual standard (normal).
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Can normal be used to describe behavior?
Yes, normal is often used to refer to typical or expected behavior.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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