What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ordinary
Example
I had an ordinary day at work today. [ordinary: adjective]
Example
The restaurant served ordinary food, nothing special. [ordinary: adjective]
typical
Example
This is a typical example of a modern art piece. [typical: adjective]
Example
It's typical for teenagers to stay up late on weekends. [typical: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Typical is more commonly used than ordinary in everyday language. Typical is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ordinary is less common and more limited in its usage.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between ordinary and typical?
Both ordinary and typical are relatively informal words that can be used in casual or formal contexts. However, typical may be slightly more formal due to its association with standards and norms.