“Normal things” refers to things that are typical, usual, or conform to a standard. Here are some synonyms and their analyses:
1. Typical items
- Meaning: Things that have the characteristics commonly found in a particular category or situation. For example, “Typical items in a student's backpack include textbooks, notebooks, and a pen.”
- Usage difference: “Typical items” emphasizes the commonness and predictability of the things. It implies that these are the things one would generally expect to find. In contrast to “normal things,” which is a more general phrase, “typical items” focuses on the idea of a standard set of things for a given context.
2. Usual objects
- Meaning: Objects that are accustomed or habitual in a certain environment or activity. For example, “The usual objects on a kitchen counter are a toaster, a coffee maker, and a set of utensils.”
- Usage difference: “Usual objects” highlights the regularity and frequency of the presence of these things. It gives a sense of what is commonly seen or used. Similar to “typical items,” it is more context - specific than “normal things” and focuses on the objects that are habitually part of a particular setting.
3. Commonplace entities
- Meaning: Entities (which can include objects, concepts, or beings) that are ordinary and frequently encountered. For example, “In a city, cars, pedestrians, and streetlights are commonplace entities.”
- Usage difference: “Commonplace entities” has a broader scope than “usual objects” or “typical items” as it can refer to a wide range of things including non - physical entities like concepts. It emphasizes the idea that these are things that are so ordinary that they don't attract much attention due to their frequency of occurrence.
4. Standard fare
- Meaning: Things that are considered the usual or typical offering in a particular context. For example, “Burgers, fries, and sodas are the standard fare at a fast - food restaurant.”
- Usage difference: “Standard fare” is often used to describe products, services, or offerings that are the norm in a specific establishment or situation. It implies a kind of expected range of things that is more about what is regularly provided rather than just what is generally around.
5. Ordinary elements
- Meaning: Elements (which could be parts of a system, objects in a collection, etc.) that are not special or extraordinary. For example, “The ordinary elements of a garden include grass, flowers, and a few bushes.”
- Usage difference: “Ordinary elements” focuses on the lack of distinctiveness or extraordinariness of the things. It's a way of saying that these are the basic, unremarkable components that one would expect to find in a given context. It's similar to “normal things” but emphasizes the elements that make up a whole and their lack of special features.