a common account

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common account" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a shared or widely accepted narrative or explanation among a group of people. Example: "In historical discussions, a common account of the events often emerges, reflecting the perspectives of those involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The two professors note that the decline of unions is part of a common account of rising inequality that is often contrasted with a market explanation that includes technological change, immigration and foreign trade.

The New York Times

Although willing to provide a common account of the soul in these general terms, Aristotle devotes most of his energy in De Anima to detailed investigations of the soul's individual capacities or faculties, which he first lists as nutrition, perception, and mind, with perception receiving the lion's share of attention.

SEP

(Although the appropriators intend to match the Obama request for NASA, the figures for individual programs within the markup for the NASA budget don't match up exactly because the labor costs of several programs have been moved into a common account).

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It cannot be denied that the adoption of the IPSAS principles may definitely ensure, on the one hand, greater transparency in the handling of joint resources because of a common accounting language and, on the other hand, greater attention in the use of resources available (Pollifroni 2007).

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

California needs a common accounting system.

Los Angeles Times

In other words, I am proposing a single, common account of both phenomena.

Biology and Philosophy

In addition, booking sales on contracts that are not signed until a few days after a quarter has ended is a relatively common accounting tactic at publicly traded companies, unlike other accounting practices former employees have said Computer Associates used during the late 1990's.

The New York Times

'Deripaska is, by common account, a Kremlin-friendly oligarch, who heeded President Putin's warning to the oligarchs to stay out of politics,' the professor said.

The Guardian - Opinion

Although Olympus has not detailed the system by which it hid the losses, it is thought to have used a once common accounting maneuver known as "tobashi".

The New York Times

Energy projects aimed at doubling access to electricity in a country where blackouts are common account for $34 billion of China's total investment.

Vice

Some of them share, such as Dorset county council and its six district councils, which also use a common Twitter account.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a common account", ensure that the context clearly indicates who shares the account or understanding you are referring to.

Common error

Avoid using "a common account" without establishing that the account is, in fact, widely known among your target audience. Provide context or elaboration if there's a chance of ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common account" typically functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig indicates that it correctly describes a widely accepted explanation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a common account" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a shared or widely accepted explanation or narrative. Ludwig's AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, its presence in both scientific and news media suggests a broad applicability. Related phrases include "a shared explanation" and "a widely accepted story", offering nuanced alternatives. When employing this phrase, be mindful of your audience's existing knowledge to ensure clarity. Be careful to not assume universal knowledge. Keep in mind that 'account' in this context refers to a narrative and isn't related to finance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shared explanation

Replaces "account" with "explanation", emphasizing the act of explaining rather than the narrative itself. Similarity score is slightly affected.

a widely accepted story

Substitutes "account" with "story", highlighting the narrative aspect and emphasizing broad acceptance. This creates a subtle shift in nuance.

a prevalent understanding

Replaces "common account" with "prevalent understanding", focusing on the shared comprehension rather than the recounting of events. Semantic change is small.

a general consensus

Shifts the focus to agreement, replacing "account" with "consensus". Introduces a sense of collective agreement.

a standard interpretation

Emphasizes a typical or usual way of understanding something, altering the initial focus.

a mainstream narrative

Highlights the conventional or dominant storytelling of something. Slightly stronger semantic transformation.

a typical description

Focuses on a usual or expected way of describing something, shifting the emphasis to the act of describing.

a usual rendition

This option replaces "account" with "rendition", suggesting a particular performance or interpretation, not necessarily shared.

a collective interpretation

Replacing "common" with "collective", which maintains a strong emphasis on the interpretation part.

a familiar narrative

Replaces "common" with "familiar", which highlights the well-known aspect of the narrative. Semantic is lower than other alternatives.

FAQs

What does "a common account" mean?

The phrase "a common account" refers to a shared or generally accepted explanation or narrative about a particular event, situation, or phenomenon.

How can I use "a common account" in a sentence?

You can use "a common account" to introduce a widely held belief or understanding, as in, "A shared explanation of the company's success attributes it to innovative marketing strategies."

What are some alternatives to "a common account"?

Alternatives include "a shared explanation", "a widely accepted story", or "a prevalent understanding", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "a common account" the same as "a joint account"?

No, "a common account" refers to a shared narrative or explanation, while "a joint account" is a financial term referring to an account held by two or more individuals.