Difference between Generic and Generative?

Question

Hi all,I have difficulty comprehending the difference between Generic and Generative.Could someone please explain the difference between both words?They look very similar.Thanks!

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Hi, Denim. Thanks for joining us. Welcome to English Forums.

Perhaps you should be posting in the Linguistics Forum. Your second term appears in my dictionary only as part of the expression, "Generative Transformational Grammar" which is a rather complicated sysem belonging to the field of Linguistics. I won't pretend to be able to explain it.

On the other hand, "generic" applies to the simplest, most basic form of something. The "generic" definition of "generative" is unfortunately missing from my dictionary. I would take it to describe some process by which things are created, such as by a random number generator. I think the process could be described as "generative."

The simplest, best known example of "generic" is "generic brands" - "brand X" - just the basics - nothing fancy.

Best regards, - A.

Difference between Generic and Generative?

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