What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
collective
Example
The team made a collective decision to postpone the project until everyone was available. [collective: adjective]
Example
The collective effort of the community resulted in the successful completion of the charity event. [collective: noun]
collaborative
Example
The students engaged in a collaborative project to create a presentation on climate change. [collaborative: adjective]
Example
The collaborative effort between the two departments led to the successful launch of the new product. [collaborative: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Collaborative is more commonly used than collective in everyday language, especially in the context of teamwork, projects, and problem-solving. Collaborative highlights the importance of active participation and communication among team members, which is often valued in various professional and educational settings.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between collective and collaborative?
Both collective and collaborative can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, collaborative is more commonly associated with a formal tone due to its frequent usage in professional and academic environments.
