Dear Queenie,
What do people mean when they talk about “common sense”? My mother says I am very smart but I have no common sense.
Queenie, what does she mean?—Confused
Dear Confused,
Being “smart” is basically the ability to be a good student and learn what is called “book knowledge.” “Common sense” is the ability to learn from experience – the “lessons of life,” also known as “the school of hard knocks” – and not repeat the mistakes one makes along the way.
And, yes, it is quite possible to be “book-smart” and to not have common sense.
