Is “the general public” redundant?





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Is "the general public" redundant? Or is it different from "the public"?










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  • 3




    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










  • @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

















up vote
2
down vote

favorite
1












Is "the general public" redundant? Or is it different from "the public"?










share|improve this question














bumped to the homepage by Community 53 mins ago


This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.











  • 3




    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










  • @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













up vote
2
down vote

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up vote
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down vote

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1





Is "the general public" redundant? Or is it different from "the public"?










share|improve this question













Is "the general public" redundant? Or is it different from "the public"?







redundancy






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asked Jul 31 at 18:43









Orion

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1566





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  • 3




    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










  • @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














  • 3




    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










  • @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








3




3




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












@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










1 Answer
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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)






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    1 Answer
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    active

    oldest

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    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

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    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)






    share|improve this answer



























      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)






      share|improve this answer

























        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)






        share|improve this answer














        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)







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Jul 31 at 19:14

























        answered Jul 31 at 18:48









        user240918

        24.1k967146




        24.1k967146






























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