Cool MateA great council vs Convention
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
A great council
Convention
| A great council | Convention | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ə ɡreɪt ˈkaʊnsl//🇺🇸 //ə ɡreɪt ˈkaʊnsl// | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈvenʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈvenʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A large group of important people who meet to make decisions. | A large meeting or event where people with the same interests come together. |
| Example | The leaders gathered for a great council to determine the future of their nation. | The annual writers' convention attracted attendees from all over the country. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | hold a great council, attend a great council, convene a great council | 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 |
| Antonyms | - | disorder, chaos, unconventionality |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'great council' as only a medieval term., Assumed to be informal or conversational. | 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 |
| Usage notes | Used in official or serious contexts, often regarding governance or leadership. Avoid using in casual conversation. | Use 'convention' for formal gatherings, especially in business, politics, or specific areas of interest. Avoid using it in casual contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: A great council vs Convention
What's the difference between A great council and Convention?
A great council: A large group of important people who meet to make decisions. Convention: A large meeting or event where people with the same interests come together.
Which is more formal: A great council and Convention?
A great council is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: A great council and Convention?
Convention is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
A great council: The leaders gathered for a great council to determine the future of their nation. Convention: The annual writers' convention attracted attendees from all over the country.
Can I use A great council and Convention interchangeably?
Not always. A great council and Convention 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.