What is the difference between common name and scientific name?

Answer 1

Common names are what the most of us use. Scientific names are what scientists use to differentiate, one from another in the classification system. The difference is precision: the scientific name is an attempt to remove as much ambiguity as possible, in order to avoid confusion. This level of precision is not usually needed in most circumstances and common names are easier to remember and pronounce. The important thing to remember is that everyone wants others to understand what they're saying, so everyone tries to use terms that have have the best chance to accomplish that goal.

Answer 2

Common name is what the everyday person calls something; the scientific name is what scientists sometimes call something to differentiate it from other things in the same group/family/section. For example, acetic and formic acids (the active chemicals in vinegar and ant/bee stings) are scientifically named ethanoic and methanoic acids.

Answer 3

Common names are everyday names given to organisms in a specific language, while scientific names are standardized names based on the organism's genus and species in Latin. Common names can vary across regions and languages, making scientific names more precise for identifying and classifying organisms.