Cool MateConvention vs The great council
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Convention
The great council
| Convention | The great council | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈvenʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈvenʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðə ɡreɪt ˈkaʊnsəl//🇺🇸 //ði ɡreɪt ˈkaʊnsəl// |
| Meaning | A large meeting or event where people with the same interests come together. | A big meeting of important leaders or representatives. |
| Example | The annual writers' convention attracted attendees from all over the country. | The great council met to discuss the future of the kingdom. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | accepted, established, long-standing, set, adhere to, conform to, follow, demand something, dictate something, according to convention, by convention, a break with convention, a matter of convention, annual, international, national, have, hold, host, take place, centre/center, hall, floor, at a/the convention, delegates to a convention, global, international, European, adopt, ratify, sign, apply, govern something, establish something, under a/the convention, convention against, convention between, a breach of a convention, accepted, established, long-standing, set, adhere to, conform to, follow, demand something, dictate something, according to convention, by convention, a break with convention, a matter of convention | hold a great council, assemble a great council, decisions of the great council |
| Antonyms | disorder, chaos, unconventionality | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'convention' vs 'conventional', Using 'convention' in the wrong plural form (conventions) when referring to multiple events, Mistaking 'convention' for 'conference' as being interchangeable in all contexts | Confused with 'great council' as a general meeting rather than an important official assembly., Using it in informal speech where it sounds out of place., Misunderstanding its significance in different cultures or historical contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'convention' for formal gatherings, especially in business, politics, or specific areas of interest. Avoid using it in casual contexts. | Used in historical, political, or ceremonial contexts to describe an important assembly. Not suitable for casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Convention vs The great council
What's the difference between Convention and The great council?
Convention: A large meeting or event where people with the same interests come together. The great council: A big meeting of important leaders or representatives.
Which is more formal: Convention and The great council?
The great council is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Convention and The great council?
Convention is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Convention: The annual writers' convention attracted attendees from all over the country. The great council: The great council met to discuss the future of the kingdom.
Can I use Convention and The great council interchangeably?
Not always. Convention and The great council are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.