What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
public
Example
The park is open to the public. [public: adjective]
Example
The government has a responsibility to serve the public. [public: noun]
Example
The actor's private life became public after the scandal. [public: adjective]
collective
Example
The team's collective effort led to their victory. [collective: adjective]
Example
The apartment building is collectively owned by its residents. [collective: adverb]
Example
The group made a collective decision to postpone the event. [collective: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Public is more commonly used in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of contexts and is more versatile. On the other hand, collective is less common and is often used in academic or professional contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between public and collective?
Collective is generally considered more formal than public, as it is often used in academic or professional settings to describe group efforts or decisions.
