nonstandard

nonstandard — adjective

  • nonstandardpositive
  • more nonstandardcomparative
  • most nonstandardsuperlative

1. different from the usual size, shape, quality, or way of doing things that peopl

1.形容詞B2
釋義

different from the usual size, shape, quality, or way of doing things that people generally expect or accept.

例句

The builder measured the doorframe twice because its width was a nonstandard size.

nonstandard + size for unusual measurements

Ryo asked the mechanic whether a nonstandard part would fit his old motorcycle.

nonstandard + part for unusual components

同義詞
  • unusual

    broader — anything uncommon, not necessarily breaking a standard

  • abnormal

    stronger negative or clinical connotation; often used in medical or statistical contexts

  • irregular

    focuses on departure from a regular pattern or schedule

反義詞
  • standard

    the direct opposite — conforming to the accepted measure

  • normal

    conforming to the usual pattern or expectation

文法句型

nonstandard + noun

be nonstandard

remain nonstandard

用法筆記

Unlike substandard, which means below an acceptable level, nonstandard simply means different from the usual size or type without implying lower quality. Frequently used with nouns such as size, part, format, design, and equipment.

常見錯誤

❌This product is nonstandard' (meaning it is low quality).
✅This product is substandard.
💡Nonstandard means different from the usual measure; substandard means below the acceptable level.

2. describes a word, pronunciation, or sentence structure that most educated users

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a word, pronunciation, or sentence structure that most educated users of the language would not accept as correct.

例句

Karim's teacher told him that 'ain't' is nonstandard and should be avoided in essays.

'ain't' as a classic example of nonstandard vocabulary

Leo noticed that his grandmother's dialect included many nonstandard verb forms from her home region.

nonstandard + verb forms for dialect features

同義詞
  • dialectal

    more neutral — describes features belonging to a specific regional or social dialect

  • substandard

    stronger negative value judgment, implies the language is inferior

  • ungrammatical

    narrower — only about grammar, not pronunciation or word choice

反義詞
  • standard

    conforming to the usage of educated native speakers

  • correct

    widely accepted as proper in the language community

文法句型

nonstandard + noun

be considered nonstandard

be labeled nonstandard

用法筆記

Distinguish from 'informal' — informal language is appropriate in casual settings, whereas nonstandard language is typically considered incorrect even in casual speech by educated speakers. Common with nouns such as word, pronunciation, grammar, dialect, and form.

常見錯誤

❌Using "ain't" is just informal.
✅Using "ain't" is nonstandard, not merely informal.
💡Nonstandard language goes beyond informality; most educated speakers consider it incorrect regardless of the setting.