What's the difference between 'normalcy' and 'normality'?

June 26, 2004 8:19 PM

Is there a difference (other than spelling) between "normalcy" and "normality"?
posted by casarkos to Writing & Language (10 answers total)

From here:

normal - 1650, "standing at a right angle," from L.L. normalis "in conformity with rule, normal," from L. normalis "made according to a carpenter's square," from norma "rule, pattern," lit. "carpenter's square" (see norm). Meaning "conformingt to common standards, usual" is from 1828. Normalcy is first attested 1857, originally as a mathematical term; normality is first attested 1849. Normal school (1834) is from Fr. école normale (1794), a republican foundation.

From the looks of this 'normalcy' seems to have a stunted career as a word of its own.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:23 PM on June 26, 2004

"Normalcy" connotes disengagement, inactivity, and blandness, from Harding's campaign promises to "return to normalcy" following WW1 and his disengaged, inactive, and bland presidency.

I wouldn't use it in situations where you don't want at least some readers thinking you mean to be disparaging about whatever constitutes the relevant "normal."
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:12 PM on June 26, 2004

I recall in chemsitry there being a linguistic structure to the degrees of various elements' presence in compounds.

For example:

Sodium-hypoclorate
Sodium-hypoclorite
Sodium-hyperchlorate
and
Sodium hyperchlorite

would represent 4 increasing levels of chlorine in a sodium compound. I'm shooting from the hip, so someone correct me if I'm wrong.

By the same structure, I'd say that there are degrees ehre. I'd say that "normalcy" is the semblace of meeting society's norms, while "normality" is the actual state of meeting them in every degree, or, in other words, the standard to be met.

Call in languagehat.
posted by scarabic at 10:30 PM on June 26, 2004

I think the definitions are the same, with use of normalcy being discouraged in favor of normality. However, see this blurb from the Columbia Journalism Review where the author says that at least one dictionary says we are now free to use normalcy without reproach.
posted by caddis at 12:16 AM on June 27, 2004

According to this they are supposed to be pretty much the same. My feeling, though, is that when using the word to refer to a state of mediocrity (in a negative sense, in other words), "normality" works, but normalcy doesn't.

His encounters with Alan magnify his own loathsome normality.

to me this would be quite strange with "normalcy", which seems to be more about being or acting normal despite extraordinary conditions. Maybe.

Anyway, this guy hates it, fools. (Don't we have a languagehat beacon somewhere?)
posted by taz at 1:52 AM on June 27, 2004

My feeling, though, is that when using the word to refer to a state of mediocrity (in a negative sense, in other words), "normality" works, but normalcy doesn't.

I'd argue the opposite. In fact, I am arguing that. Normalcy is Leave it to Beaver, but less edgy. Normalcy is sticking your fingers in your ears and going LA-LA-LA so you don't notice the wife-beating going on next door. Normalcy is living in uninteresting times, or at least pretending that your times are not interesting.

All of which is to say again that it has negative connotations. I wouldn't say that you should avoid its use because it's for poopyheads. I'd say that you should be careful with its use because you might find the literal meaning you intend working against its connotations.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 2:35 AM on June 27, 2004

aaah! Here we go.....
posted by taz at 3:17 AM on June 27, 2004

Response by poster: Hmm, and I always thought "normalcy" was just a word some politician made up. Is there something wrong with "back to normal"?
posted by casarkos at 7:31 AM on June 27, 2004

"Normality" is usually a property of some thing. "The normality of the situation calmed me." "Nomalcy" doesn't usually belong to anything, it's just an abstract condition of non-weirdness. "I'm relieved to achieve a sense of normalcy in my life."
posted by 4easypayments at 9:19 PM on June 27, 2004

I'm shooting from the hip, so someone correct me if I'm wrong.

You're wrong. No, actually the basic principle you're trying to illustrate is correct, but the specifics are wrong: the different names actually refer to varying numbers of oxygen atoms per molecule.

sodium chloride (table salt) = NaCl
sodium hypochlorite (bleach) = NaOCl
sodium chlorite = NaClO₂
sodium chlorate = NaClO₃
sodium perchlorate = NaClO₄
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:52 AM on June 28, 2004