Word: commonplace

Associations

The word "commonplace" refers to something that is ordinary, usual, or found frequently. It suggests that something is not special or remarkable.

• Example 1: "In a large city, seeing different types of food trucks is commonplace." This means that food trucks are a usual sight and not surprising.
• Example 2: "It's commonplace for people to use smartphones every day." This indicates that using smartphones has become a normal part of daily life.
• Example 3: "The idea that everyone should have access to education is now commonplace." This suggests that this belief is widely accepted and common among many people.

The synonym "ordinary" is similar, but "commonplace" emphasizes how something is frequently encountered, while "ordinary" refers more to the nature of being average or not unique.

Substitution

Some other phrases that can be used instead of "commonplace" are:

• "routine" - suggests something happens regularly without surprise.
• "standard" - refers to what is typical or expected.
• "usual" - emphasizes what is commonly done or experienced.

Each of these words has a slightly different meaning. For example, "routine" implies a repeated action, while "standard" may imply a level of quality that is typically accepted.

Deconstruction

The word "commonplace" is made up of two parts:

• "common" (meaning shared by many)
• "place" (often refers to location but here implies a situation or condition).

Historically, "commonplace" stems from early usage to describe ideas or quotes that were widely repeated or accepted, indicating that those ideas were found everywhere—hence, "common."

Inquiry

Think about these questions:

• Can you name something in your life that you consider commonplace? Why is it commonplace for you?
• In what situations might something that was once commonplace become rare?
• How does the idea of commonplace change in different cultures or places?