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MUSCOVITE Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Looking for the most "suitable" attribute

Hi,

(1) standard PCs
(2) regular PCs
(3) common PCs
(4) typical PCs
(5) ordinary PCs
(6) usual PCs

All these alternatives mean (more or less) the same thing to me.
However I realize there can be some subtle differences among them which a learner like me may not be aware of.

For example, "usual PCs" is used FAR LESS OFTEN than "regular PCs" in the Internet... and I cannot figure out why...

mus-te
  

Top answer

MUSCOVITE For example, "usual PCs" is used FAR LESS OFTEN than "regular PCs" in the Internet... and I cannot figure out why... "Usual" is used more for practices and procedures than things as such.

— Enoon

  • MUSCOVITE For example, "usual PCs" is used FAR LESS OFTEN than "regular PCs" in the Internet...
  • and I cannot figure out why...
  • "Usual" is used more for practices and procedures than things as such.
  • " I think it stems from the old meaning of "use" to mean "habit".
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14 Answers
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MUSCOVITEFor example, "usual PCs" is used FAR LESS OFTEN than "regular PCs" in the Internet... and I cannot figure out why...
"Usual" is used more for practices and procedures than things as such. You wouldn't say, "Usual skeletons have 200 bones." You would say, "Typical skeletons have 200 bones." But you would say, "The Halloween decorations included the usu
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(1) enoon I think it stems from the old meaning of "use" to mean "habit"
It is a very interesting point! .. and is worth memorizing of course :-)
Thanks for pointing this out, enoon!

(2) Btw, what about using "ordinary PCs" for "standard/regular PCs"? Would it be a valid/meaningful replacement?
(3) enoon"Usual" is used more
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MUSCOVITE(2) Btw, what about using "ordinary PCs" for "standard/regular PCs"? Would it be a valid/meaningful replacement?
The rest of your options are roughly the same. The slight differences can be easily gleaned from a dictionary. For example, "ordinary" is slightly pejorative compared to "standard" or "regular", or it emphasizes relative simplicity, and the
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enoonFor example, "ordinary" is slightly pejorative compared to "standard" or "regular", or it emphasizes relative simplicity, and the AHD backs me up with definitions 2b, "Of inferior quality; second-rate" and 2a, "Of no exceptional ability, degree, or quality; average."
Now I see why my interlocutors (native speakers) laughed down their sleeves when I used "
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We laugh "up" our sleeves.
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MUSCOVITEordinary people
Actually, Ordinary People is a movie title as well.

(Brought to you by the Useless Information Department.
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Hi CalifJIm,
CalifJim(Brought to you by the Useless Information Department. )
Useless Information Deparment?
On the contrary, it is a VERY useful piece of info... because the "scope " of using ordinary people cannot be fully understood without knowing this nuance?

It reminds me... "Bosom friends". I was very surprized when an acquaint
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It doesn't really have anything to do with a movie or play, it's just that people use "bosom" as a euphemism for women's ******* pretty commonly so it sounds at least mildly ribald.
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Well, I am totally confused here...
When I once asked a BE speaker (an English lady in their 40+ ... sorry for mentioning her age ... it is just to emphasize that it was not a teenager's point of view :-) she said "bosom friends" was perfectly ok with her..
And as we all know ladies are especially sensitive/critical to any kind of "rebald",etc. language, aren't they?...
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Presumably, then, the use of bosom as a euphemism for ******* is an American one.
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