zlacker

Norm is descriptive. Normative is prescriptive.

Knowing the difference is important to understanding and empathizing with the person you replied to.

>>kelsey+(OP)
Normative is just the adjective form of "related to norm" - can still be perfectly descriptive in use. The difference you allude do is more about the practical enforcement of a norm (or lack thereof), than the kind of the part of speech use to refer to it.

I 100% understand and empathize, doesn't mean I agree.

>>coldte+2t
> Normative is just the adjective form of "related to norm"

You might want to recheck the definition of normative. Yours is a non-standard usage and you will be misunderstood if you continue to use it that way.

Norm is is, Normative is ought.

> Normative: pertaining to giving directives or rules

> Synonyms: prescriptive

>>kelsey+(OP)
A "norm" can refer be either descriptive (average) or prescriptive (standard), but "normative" specifically is an adjective which refers to things establishing or relating prescriptive norms (this subtle distinction is often not made in short dictionary definitions but is readily observable in use.)

>>kelsey+1y
No. Both definitions are correct. Don't tell people to recheck without first doing so yourself.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/normative