Hi
Is there any difference between generic and general?
Is there any difference between generic and general?
generic and general
Yes there is, and the difference should be quite apparent if you look it up in the dictionary.
Off the top of my head, Generic, is a specialised, even 'Jargon' type word. Basically it means 'of a type'.
General: is a very common word, so common in fact, that it is difficult to think of another word that can take its place. There is a word 'common' which has connotations that 'General' does not, which means something similar.
Your best bet, is to look it up in a dictionary.
Off the top of my head, Generic, is a specialised, even 'Jargon' type word. Basically it means 'of a type'.
General: is a very common word, so common in fact, that it is difficult to think of another word that can take its place. There is a word 'common' which has connotations that 'General' does not, which means something similar.
Your best bet, is to look it up in a dictionary.
I agree with Robin, but I also think of "generic" as the opposite of "special" or "unique." For example, you can buy brand-name laundry detergent (which is more expensive but made by a company everyone has heard of) or generic laundry detergent (cheaper, but probably of poorer quality).
The word general can't be used in this sense. "General" has many meanings - it may be best to consider some examples. In a class, "I understand the general idea" means that I understand the most important parts of the concept being taught, but I don't understand the specifics. To say that something occurs "in general" (example: "in general, he's in his office till 5pm") means that it occurs most of the time, or under most circumstances.
The word general can't be used in this sense. "General" has many meanings - it may be best to consider some examples. In a class, "I understand the general idea" means that I understand the most important parts of the concept being taught, but I don't understand the specifics. To say that something occurs "in general" (example: "in general, he's in his office till 5pm") means that it occurs most of the time, or under most circumstances.