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Banal vs Commonplace – What’s the difference?
Question
Have you ever heard of the saying “commonplace?” It’s an adjective that means ordinary or trite.
The word “banal” is often used as a synonym for commonplace. However, there are differences between these two words that will help you use them properly in your writing.
What is a banal person?
A banal person is someone who is boring and ordinary, uninteresting and dull. A common phrase for this type of person is “not a barrel of laughs.” The word banal comes from the French word for marketplace, which makes sense because if you’re stuck in a conversation with someone who bores you to death, then they’ve effectively made your life into one big shopping trip at the mall.
Another way of thinking about it: if something or someone is commonplace or mundane (see below), then they are also likely to be banal because there’s nothing special about them at all!
What is a commonplace person?
A commonplace person is one who is ordinary and predictable. They aren’t original, but they’re not stupid either. They may be seen as boring or predictable by others; however, this does not mean that they are bad people–they simply do not have any special qualities that set them apart from other people in any significant way.
How to use “banal” in a sentence.
Banal is an adjective that can be used to describe something that is boring, ordinary or trite. Banal can also be used to describe people who are uninteresting or dull.
The word banal originated from the French word “ban” which means “proclamation”. So a proclamation was made by a king or queen in public and everyone had to listen to it whether they wanted to or not (kind of like when your boss makes an announcement at work). The word became associated with things that seemed common-place because they had been repeated so often over time–like saying “hello” every single day instead of actually having conversations with your friends!
A banal person is seen as boring and ordinary, while the word commonplace emphasizes that something is ordinary, but with more flair.
The difference between banal and commonplace is subtle, but important. A banal person is seen as boring and ordinary, while the word commonplace emphasizes that something is ordinary, but with more flair. Both words can be used to describe something that is boring or ordinary; however, if you want to be specific about it being boring without adding any special meaning to your sentence, then banal is your best bet.
If you find yourself describing something as “banal” too often (or even at all), try using the word “commonplace” instead!
In summary, the main difference between banal and commonplace is that the former emphasizes boredom while the latter highlights ordinary.
Answer ( 1 )
Are you confused about 🤔 the difference between banal and commonplace? 🤔
It’s easy to confuse these two words, but there is an important distinction between them. Banal means dull and unoriginal, whereas commonplace means something that is commonplace and ordinary.
Let’s start with an example to make things a bit clearer. If someone said “the sun rises in the east,” it would be considered commonplace because it’s a fact that most people know. However, if someone said “the sun rises in the east every day” it would be considered banal because it’s a mundane observation that is not original.
When it comes to banal and commonplace, the main difference is that banal things lack creativity and originality, while commonplace things are facts or ideas that are generally accepted and known. Banal things are often considered to be boring and uninteresting, while commonplace things are seen as being normal and expected.
To sum up, banal things are dull and unoriginal, whereas commonplace things are ordinary and expected. 💡 So the next time you come across these two words, make sure you know the difference! 🤓