These words all imply wide appeal, use, influence and the like. General means current among the majority of the persons, things or class specified: the general opinion. A general favourite is one widely liked. Common applies to many or a large part; a common belief is one widely shared. Universal applies to all or to the whole of a class of things; a universal truth holds in all instances.

• It may be said that good health is a general condition, that occasional sickness is common , and that death is universal .

Accepted means commonly recognized, believed or approved: Wearing a coat and tie to a good restaurant is an accepted convention. While accepted emphasizes willing compliance and approval, popular , as here considered, points to its etymological meaning, "of the people," i.e., the common people, and thus emphasizes source rather than extent of recognition: a popular myth that there is nothing to do in Melbourne on Sundays; Watching TV is a popular pastime.

Public pertains to people at large or to the community. In its suggestion of an organized or quasi-organized body of people, public differs from the other words here considered.

• Public -opinion polls indicate a general feeling among the people that accepted standards of behaviour are being deliberately flouted by long-haired hippies and the like.