Is “the general public” redundant?
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Is "the general public" redundant? Or is it different from "the public"?
redundancy
asked Jul 31 at 18:43
Orion
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Is "the general public" redundant? Or is it different from "the public"?
redundancy
asked Jul 31 at 18:43
Orion
1566
4
It's more specific in that it emphasizes the people you're talking about are just general, average, members of the public. Public beach-goers, for example, are only a subset of the "general public."
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 18:46
The English language is chock full of pleonasms, from free gift to my own to false pretense. If you want to pick on this one, your question would be strengthened if you edit it to include any initial research you've done in the matter.
– choster
Jul 31 at 18:52
Actually "the general public" is less specific, is the whole point. "The public" in many contexts is quite specific if you stop and think about it, and so we came up with "the general public" to distinguish that particular public from just absolutely everyone at large.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jul 31 at 18:54
@jmrpink You should add that as an answer
– Kevin
Jul 31 at 18:55
1
@Kevin I normally would, but I always get downvoted by people because they think my answers aren't "scientific enough" or something like that. In comments you can only get upvoted or reported.
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 19:05
|
show 3 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Is "the general public" redundant? Or is it different from "the public"?
redundancy
asked Jul 31 at 18:43
Orion
1566
Is "the general public" redundant? Or is it different from "the public"?
redundancy
redundancy
asked Jul 31 at 18:43
Orion
1566
asked Jul 31 at 18:43
Orion
1566
asked Jul 31 at 18:43
Orion
1566
asked Jul 31 at 18:43
Orion
1566
asked Jul 31 at 18:43
Orion
1566
1566
4
It's more specific in that it emphasizes the people you're talking about are just general, average, members of the public. Public beach-goers, for example, are only a subset of the "general public."
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 18:46
The English language is chock full of pleonasms, from free gift to my own to false pretense. If you want to pick on this one, your question would be strengthened if you edit it to include any initial research you've done in the matter.
– choster
Jul 31 at 18:52
Actually "the general public" is less specific, is the whole point. "The public" in many contexts is quite specific if you stop and think about it, and so we came up with "the general public" to distinguish that particular public from just absolutely everyone at large.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jul 31 at 18:54
@jmrpink You should add that as an answer
– Kevin
Jul 31 at 18:55
1
@Kevin I normally would, but I always get downvoted by people because they think my answers aren't "scientific enough" or something like that. In comments you can only get upvoted or reported.
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 19:05
|
show 3 more comments
4
It's more specific in that it emphasizes the people you're talking about are just general, average, members of the public. Public beach-goers, for example, are only a subset of the "general public."
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 18:46
The English language is chock full of pleonasms, from free gift to my own to false pretense. If you want to pick on this one, your question would be strengthened if you edit it to include any initial research you've done in the matter.
– choster
Jul 31 at 18:52
Actually "the general public" is less specific, is the whole point. "The public" in many contexts is quite specific if you stop and think about it, and so we came up with "the general public" to distinguish that particular public from just absolutely everyone at large.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jul 31 at 18:54
@jmrpink You should add that as an answer
– Kevin
Jul 31 at 18:55
1
@Kevin I normally would, but I always get downvoted by people because they think my answers aren't "scientific enough" or something like that. In comments you can only get upvoted or reported.
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 19:05
4
4
It's more specific in that it emphasizes the people you're talking about are just general, average, members of the public. Public beach-goers, for example, are only a subset of the "general public."
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 18:46
It's more specific in that it emphasizes the people you're talking about are just general, average, members of the public. Public beach-goers, for example, are only a subset of the "general public."
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 18:46
The English language is chock full of pleonasms, from free gift to my own to false pretense. If you want to pick on this one, your question would be strengthened if you edit it to include any initial research you've done in the matter.
– choster
Jul 31 at 18:52
The English language is chock full of pleonasms, from free gift to my own to false pretense. If you want to pick on this one, your question would be strengthened if you edit it to include any initial research you've done in the matter.
– choster
Jul 31 at 18:52
Actually "the general public" is less specific, is the whole point. "The public" in many contexts is quite specific if you stop and think about it, and so we came up with "the general public" to distinguish that particular public from just absolutely everyone at large.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jul 31 at 18:54
Actually "the general public" is less specific, is the whole point. "The public" in many contexts is quite specific if you stop and think about it, and so we came up with "the general public" to distinguish that particular public from just absolutely everyone at large.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jul 31 at 18:54
@jmrpink You should add that as an answer
– Kevin
Jul 31 at 18:55
@jmrpink You should add that as an answer
– Kevin
Jul 31 at 18:55
1
1
@Kevin I normally would, but I always get downvoted by people because they think my answers aren't "scientific enough" or something like that. In comments you can only get upvoted or reported.
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 19:05
@Kevin I normally would, but I always get downvoted by people because they think my answers aren't "scientific enough" or something like that. In comments you can only get upvoted or reported.
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 19:05
|
show 3 more comments
1 Answer
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0
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They are both common expressions that can convey the same meaning. Note that public have also other usages:
It derives from the following connotation of general:
not limited to one class, field, product, service, etc.; miscellaneous:
- the general public; general science.
The general public:
ordinary people, especially all the people who are not members of a particular organization or who do not have any special type of knowledge:
This is a matter of great concern to the general public.
The public:
all ordinary people:
- The public has a right to know about this.
(Cambridge Dictionary)
answered Jul 31 at 18:48
user240918
24.4k967147
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
They are both common expressions that can convey the same meaning. Note that public have also other usages:
It derives from the following connotation of general:
not limited to one class, field, product, service, etc.; miscellaneous:
- the general public; general science.
The general public:
ordinary people, especially all the people who are not members of a particular organization or who do not have any special type of knowledge:
This is a matter of great concern to the general public.
The public:
all ordinary people:
- The public has a right to know about this.
(Cambridge Dictionary)
answered Jul 31 at 18:48
user240918
24.4k967147
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
They are both common expressions that can convey the same meaning. Note that public have also other usages:
It derives from the following connotation of general:
not limited to one class, field, product, service, etc.; miscellaneous:
- the general public; general science.
The general public:
ordinary people, especially all the people who are not members of a particular organization or who do not have any special type of knowledge:
This is a matter of great concern to the general public.
The public:
all ordinary people:
- The public has a right to know about this.
(Cambridge Dictionary)
answered Jul 31 at 18:48
user240918
24.4k967147
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
They are both common expressions that can convey the same meaning. Note that public have also other usages:
It derives from the following connotation of general:
not limited to one class, field, product, service, etc.; miscellaneous:
- the general public; general science.
The general public:
ordinary people, especially all the people who are not members of a particular organization or who do not have any special type of knowledge:
This is a matter of great concern to the general public.
The public:
all ordinary people:
- The public has a right to know about this.
(Cambridge Dictionary)
answered Jul 31 at 18:48
user240918
24.4k967147
They are both common expressions that can convey the same meaning. Note that public have also other usages:
It derives from the following connotation of general:
not limited to one class, field, product, service, etc.; miscellaneous:
- the general public; general science.
The general public:
ordinary people, especially all the people who are not members of a particular organization or who do not have any special type of knowledge:
This is a matter of great concern to the general public.
The public:
all ordinary people:
- The public has a right to know about this.
(Cambridge Dictionary)
answered Jul 31 at 18:48
user240918
24.4k967147
edited Jul 31 at 19:14
answered Jul 31 at 18:48
user240918
24.4k967147
answered Jul 31 at 18:48
user240918
24.4k967147
answered Jul 31 at 18:48
user240918
24.4k967147
24.4k967147
add a comment |
add a comment |
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4
It's more specific in that it emphasizes the people you're talking about are just general, average, members of the public. Public beach-goers, for example, are only a subset of the "general public."
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 18:46
The English language is chock full of pleonasms, from free gift to my own to false pretense. If you want to pick on this one, your question would be strengthened if you edit it to include any initial research you've done in the matter.
– choster
Jul 31 at 18:52
Actually "the general public" is less specific, is the whole point. "The public" in many contexts is quite specific if you stop and think about it, and so we came up with "the general public" to distinguish that particular public from just absolutely everyone at large.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jul 31 at 18:54
@jmrpink You should add that as an answer
– Kevin
Jul 31 at 18:55
1
@Kevin I normally would, but I always get downvoted by people because they think my answers aren't "scientific enough" or something like that. In comments you can only get upvoted or reported.
– jmrpink
Jul 31 at 19:05