What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
typical
Example
The typical American breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, and toast. [typical: adjective]
Example
It's typical for teenagers to stay up late and sleep in on weekends. [typical: preposition]
representative
Example
This painting is a representative example of the artist's style. [representative: adjective]
Example
The senator is a representative of her state in Congress. [representative: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Typical is more commonly used than representative in everyday language. Typical is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while representative is less common and tends to be used in more formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between typical and representative?
Representative is typically associated with a more formal or technical tone, while typical is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
