a common emotion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common emotion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing feelings or sentiments that are widely experienced by people. Example: "Sadness is a common emotion that many people face during difficult times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Losers lash out, and anger is a common emotion, as is pride.

The New Yorker

"We are all different in our approach to music, but we share a common emotion and ideals," said Julieta Venegas, a Mexican rock singer who performed on Friday.

The New York Times - Arts

Perhaps the yeshiva student was right about the snow&that this is what heaven looks like: not a place where everything is blanketed by a common emotion but a place where everything is exactly what it wants to be View Article Adam Gopnik, a staff writer, has been contributing to The New Yorker since 1986.

The New Yorker

Young children around the world who are just entering school for the first time this fall share a common emotion.

Huffington Post

Advocates of gun control, for example, will find support among gun owners only when they find a common emotion that moves them to joint action.

Huffington Post

Sadness is a common emotion that people often deal with – but when it's lingering and you notice that you are pulling back from doing things you'd normally do, and it's impacting your daily life, this may be depression.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Anxiety is a very common emotion, and you do not have to face it alone.

WikiHow

Anger, grief, resentment, sadness, betrayal, hurt, and a number of other things are all common emotions.

WikiHow

Gore Vidal's famous quote, that "whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies," is an ancient and common emotion for writers.

The New York Times - Magazine

In the TP Spinoza tells us that men, who are individually weak and effectively powerless compared to the cumulative powers of others (2/15; Cf. EIVP5dem)., come together as a result of "some common emotion...a common hope, or common fear, or desire to avenge some common injury" (6/1; see Matheron 1969 and 1990).

SEP

Yesterday if you asked me what the single most common emotion that a child taken to a group home is feeling, I would have said either fear, loneliness or anger.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, specify the emotion you are referring to (e.g., "a common emotion like anxiety" rather than just "a common emotion").

Common error

Avoid using "a common emotion" as a placeholder without providing specific context or examples. This can lead to vagueness and weaken your writing. Always aim to clarify which emotion you're discussing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common emotion" serves as a noun phrase functioning as a subject complement or object. It describes an emotion that is widely experienced. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a common emotion" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a widely felt feeling. Ludwig AI validates this usage. While not exceptionally frequent, it appears in various sources like news articles, wiki entries, and scientific publications. It serves to categorize an emotion as one shared by many. When using the phrase, it is important to provide context and avoid overgeneralization for clear and impactful communication. Alternatives like "a shared sentiment" or "a prevalent emotion" can add nuance depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A shared sentiment

Emphasizes the shared aspect of the emotion, highlighting a collective feeling.

A universal feeling

Suggests that the emotion is experienced by nearly everyone, across different backgrounds and cultures.

A prevalent emotion

Highlights the widespread nature of the emotion within a particular group or society.

A typical emotional response

Focuses on the emotion as a standard reaction to a specific situation or stimulus.

A widespread feeling

Similar to 'prevalent emotion', this emphasizes the broad reach and occurrence of the feeling.

A familiar emotion

Implies that the emotion is well-known and frequently encountered.

A general feeling

Suggests a non-specific, but widely experienced, emotional state.

A human emotion

Highlights the emotion as being intrinsic to the human experience.

A collective emotion

Emphasizes the experience of the emotion as a group or community.

A natural emotional reaction

Highlights the instinctive and unlearned nature of the emotional response.

FAQs

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

You can use "a common emotion" to refer to a feeling that many people experience. For example, "Grief is "a common emotion" after a loss".

What can I say instead of "a common emotion"?

You can use alternatives like "a shared sentiment", "a universal feeling", or "a prevalent emotion" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to specify the emotion instead of saying "a common emotion"?

Specifying the emotion (e.g., "anxiety", "joy", "sadness") provides more clarity and impact. "A common emotion" is useful when you want to refer to the general experience of feeling something widely felt, but directness is often better.

What's the difference between "a common emotion" and "a basic emotion"?

"A common emotion" refers to how frequently an emotion is experienced, while "a basic emotion" refers to a fundamental, universally recognized emotion like happiness, sadness, anger, or fear.