“Shared interest(s)” vs “common interest(s)” - for native English speakers.
EDIT: perhaps this seems like a slightly odd question, but in Danish I would never say “shared interest(s)”, but only “common interest(s)”, so to me it’s a little strange that in English I also encounter “shared interests”.

I have two questions:

1.

I assume that “shared” and “common” are interchangeable in the following sentences. Is that correct?:
How important are common interests in a relationship?
How important are shared interests in a relationship?

2.

When “interest” is used with the meaning “an advantage or benefit of a person or group” I suppose you would normally say for instance: “It is in the common interest of all citizens that...” and not so often “It is in the shared interest of all citizens that...”
Is that correct? Perhaps it’s not really a difference in meaning, but simply a matter of collocation?

Thanks for your help!

Question

“Shared interest(s)” vs “common interest(s)” - for native English speakers.
EDIT: perhaps this seems like a slightly odd question, but in Danish I would never say “shared interest(s)”, but only “common interest(s)”, so to me it’s a little strange that in English I also encounter “shared interests”.

I have two questions:

1.

I assume that “shared” and “common” are interchangeable in the following sentences. Is that correct?:
How important are common interests in a relationship?
How important are shared interests in a relationship?

2.

When “interest” is used with the meaning “an advantage or benefit of a person or group” I suppose you would normally say for instance: “It is in the common interest of all citizens that...” and not so often “It is in the shared interest of all citizens that...”
Is that correct? Perhaps it’s not really a difference in meaning, but simply a matter of collocation?

Thanks for your help!

Answer

To me, they're slightly different from each other, but not different enough that it'd raise eyebrows to use them interchangeably. I view "shared interests" between people, groups, etc. as interests in things that they're working for, want to get, etc. For example, if my friend and I were working on a car, you could say that we share an interest in auto repair. "Common interest" would be more of interests in ideals. For example, my friend and I have a common interest in world peace. There's not much we can actively do to make the world a peaceful place but we would both want to see it happen.

Does that make sense? It does to me but I'm not the able to explain properly what goes on in my head a lot of times. I know how I make the distinction between the two isn't anything official or the like but it's how I view the differences between the them.

Answer

Great question Mikkel

I had to think pretty hard and no they are interchangeable in both uses.  If anything "shared" might have  a slight edge in "group think".  Partially because "common" has so many other meanings.