Active region in BJT in a Common emitter configuration

Question

In BJT for working in active region for a common emitter configuration emitter and base should be in forward bias and base and collector should be in reverse bias. But in case of voltage we say that base-collector voltage should be less than 0.4V.

But if V(base)-V(collector)=0.1 (suppose) then base-collector junction will be in forward bias that means it will enter into saturation mode. But book says it will remain in active mode. How is it possible?

Answer 1

Here is a bipolar I_V plot; saturation is the far left region; notice all the lines merge in "saturation", not good for linear amplification but good for switches.

Here is the circuit used to produce that plot

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}