"popular" vs "common"

[newbie]

At that time it was ... for groups and singers to write their own songs
a. routine
b. popular
c. habitual
d. common
-> Which is more suitable between "popular" and "common"?

[Clark]

Common

[rj1948]

At that time it was ... for groups and singers to write their own songs
a. routine
b. popular
c. habitual
d. common
-> Which is more suitable between "popular" and "common"?

Common is better.
Regards,
rj1948.

[newbie]

Sorry but why is "common" better?

Many thanks
Newbie

[Clark]

Sorry but why is "common" better?

Many thanks
Newbie

popular with
common for

[tDivya]

Common word is better because it means it was a general thing and popular means it is a wellknown or famous thing.

[newbie]

popular with
common for

Er... really? what about this:

SARA Search Results

[tzfujimino]

Er... really? what about this:

SARA Search Results

Hi, newbie.

I'm not a native speaker of English, so please take it as my personal opinion.

I also think "common" is the best choice in this case.

However, "popular" might be possible, though I've never seen or heard
"it's popular for sb to-."
"it's popular to-." sounds OK to me.

I went to the link you provided to us. Indeed, I've found lots of examples including "popular for-," but I haven't been able to find "popular for sb."
It's either "popular for sth" or "popular for duration of time."

Let's wait for other native speakers to respond.

[Clark]

Er... really? what about this:

SARA Search Results

Popular for something
Popular with somebody

In your sentence it was '... for groups and singers...' (=somebody). So 'popular' doesn't fit.

[Clark]

I came in second.