What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
normative
Example
The company has a normative policy that requires all employees to arrive on time. [normative: adjective]
Example
The study focused on normative behavior in social situations. [normative: noun]
prescriptive
Example
The teacher gave prescriptive feedback on how to improve the essay. [prescriptive: adjective]
Example
The doctor prescribed a prescriptive treatment plan for the patient's condition. [prescribed: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prescriptive is more commonly used than normative in technical or medical contexts. Normative is more commonly used in social or cultural contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between normative and prescriptive?
Both normative and prescriptive can be used in formal or academic contexts. However, prescriptive may have a more formal or technical connotation due to its usage in technical fields such as medicine or engineering.
