What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
collective
Example
The collective effort of the team led to their victory. [collective: adjective]
Example
They made a collective decision to donate the money to charity. [collective: noun]
common
Example
It is common for people to feel nervous before a job interview. [common: adjective]
Example
English is a common language spoken around the world. [common: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Common is more commonly used than collective in everyday language. It is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts to describe something that is widespread or ordinary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between collective and common?
While collective has a more formal and organized connotation, common is more neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
