Detail explaination for the difference of COMMON ORDINARY AVERAGE GENERAL

Question

May I have the detail explaination for the difference of COMMON, ORDINARY, AVERAGE, GENERAL?THANKS A LOT!

Doll · Accepted Answer

Of course you can:D

Enter here:http://www.dictionary.com

Anonymous · Answer

Ok I'm an Teaching Assistant ( English ) at a school in HK, and today I faced the above question asked by a student. I found myself struggling after some researched done on both the Internet and dictionary.

Please help me how I can better explain this to a studnet. Thanks...!

Daniel Lam

Doll · Answer

This kind of dressing is very common in this region. Generally they prefer red.It may seem ordinary but an average of every 5 person in this region wears it.

I have just made this up.I hope it helps.

Yankee · Answer

Hi Anon

For even more dictionary information about your words, check out onelook.com

After you have digested the various definitions for your words, I suggest that you write a sentence or even a few sentences for each word and then post your sentences for comment. Do not write overly short sentences such as "He is average."

After you post your sentences, people will be able to focus better on what exactly you do and don't understand, and you will get some detailed explanations and feedback. Better yet, tell your student to do this for you to correct.

Marius Hancu · Answer

Buy yourself ($30/year) a subscription to this very good online dictionary:

or a printed synonym dictionary

(Merriam-Webster's is very good

http://www.amazon.com/Merriam-Websters-Dictionary-Synonyms-Discriminated/dp/0877793417/ref=sr_1_1/002-2131815-5317619?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181592881&sr=1-1

Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms: A Dictionary of Discriminated Synonyms With Antonyms and Analogous and Contrasted Words (Dictionary)

),

and you will find comparisons such as this:

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synonyms ORDINARY, FAMILIAR, POPULAR, VULGAR: common, ORDINARY, AND FAMILIAR all describe something that is very frequently or generally met with and hence is not at all strange or unusual. COMMON stresses lack of distinguishing or exceptional characteristics<Norris quite definitely identified the romantic with that which is peculiar or special as opposed to the common -- M.R.Cohen> and may connote coarseness or lack of refinement <weavers produced fine muslins, gauzes, calicoes, and the common cloths used by the poorer population -- C.L.Jones> ORDINARY applies to what is met with in the routine, regular, or accustomed order of events; it may connote lack of rareness or of superiority<the business of the poet is not to find new emotions, but to use the ordinary ones -- T.S.Eliot> <it is not an ordinary war. It is a revolution ... which threatens all men everywhere -- F.D.Roosevelt> <the mass of ordinary men, as definitely opposed to exceptional men -- W.H.Mallock>

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Detail explaination for the difference of COMMON ORDINARY AVERAGE GENERAL

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