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Is the word “abnormal” being used appropriately in the following sentences? Should we take a closer look at the different shades of meaning a word carries before adopting it in our writing?
Literary: “She displayed abnormal talents for music, astonishing everyone around her.” — Adapted from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Journalistic: “The prodigy's abnormal talents in mathematics drew international attention.” — BBC News, 2022
5 sep. 2025 01:25
Antwoorden · 4
2
Good question.
The word “abnormal” is not usually used for positive things. In most cases, it describes something strange, unusual, or unhealthy. For example: abnormal behavior, abnormal results on a test, abnormal growth.
That’s why the two sentences sound a little off. A native speaker would not usually say “abnormal talents.” More natural choices would be:
remarkable talents
extraordinary talents
exceptional talents
So yes, it’s important to check how a word is commonly used before adopting it. Even if the dictionary says “not normal,” in everyday English “abnormal” often has a negative or medical tone, not a positive one.
Here are some common and natural ways “abnormal” is used in everyday English:
The doctor found abnormal results in the blood test. (medical, not healthy)
The child showed abnormal behavior in class. (strange, not typical)
There was an abnormal amount of rain this year. (much more than usual, surprising, sometimes harmful)
Scientists studied the abnormal growth of the plants. (unusual, not natural)
So you can see: it usually points to something negative, strange, or unhealthy, not to talents or skills.
If you want to describe talents, it’s better to say extraordinary, exceptional, or remarkable.
5 sep. 2025 01:33
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