What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
middlebrow
Example
The book club chose a middlebrow novel that was both entertaining and thought-provoking. [middlebrow: adjective]
Example
She's a middlebrow reader who enjoys bestsellers and popular fiction. [middlebrow: noun]
ordinary
Example
I had an ordinary day at work, nothing exciting happened. [ordinary: adjective]
Example
He's just an ordinary guy, nothing remarkable about him. [ordinary: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ordinary is a more common word than middlebrow and is used in everyday language to describe things that are typical or unremarkable. Middlebrow is less common and is typically used in more specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between middlebrow and ordinary?
Both middlebrow and ordinary are relatively informal words, but middlebrow may be considered slightly more formal due to its association with culture and intellectual pursuits.
