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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a common features

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common features" is not correct in English.
It should be "common features" or "a common feature." You can use "common features" when referring to characteristics that are shared by multiple items or subjects. Example: "The common features of these smartphones include high-resolution cameras and long battery life."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The scale-free property, a common features among biological networks [18], [21], [33], [34], suggests that the topology of the ESC co-expression networks is dominated by a few highly-connected genes (hub genes) that link the less-connected genes to the system.

Science

Plosone

The current computational analysis uses these molecules from two different structural classes to construct a common features pharmacophore.

Overall, our study suggests that overexpression of API5 is a common features in cervical cancer and might represent a novel prognostic marker for the disease.

Science

BMC Cancer

These active molecules were used as they have both in vitro and in vivo activity to build a common features pharmacophore with Discovery Studio 4.1 (Biovia, San Diego, CA) from 3D conformations of the molecules generated with the CAESAR algorithm.

We produced a common features pharmacophore for the 4 compounds, and after looking at the VP35 receptor-ligand pharmacophores proposed that there may be some overlap, and then this led to docking the 4 compounds in the X-ray structures.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

That is not a common feature in legal jobs (unless you're super lucky!).

News & Media

Huffington Post

Breakup fees have long been a common feature in mergers.

News & Media

The New York Times

Unpleasant surprises were a common feature of bad reviews.

News & Media

Independent

A common feature of many of these photographs was the Juicy tracksuit.

Illegally held weapons are also a common feature of domestic violence.

News & Media

The Guardian

"The 'innocent remark' made out of ignorance is sadly a common feature of football.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to multiple shared characteristics, use the plural form "common features" without the article "a". For example: "High-resolution cameras are common features of modern smartphones."

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before the plural noun "features" when describing shared characteristics. The correct form is "common features", not "a common features".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

3.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common features" functions as a noun phrase, intended to describe shared characteristics. However, it is grammatically incorrect due to the mismatch between the singular article "a" and the plural noun "features". According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a common features" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "common features" (plural) or "a common feature" (singular). While examples of the incorrect phrase exist, particularly in scientific and news media contexts as per Ludwig's analysis, its use is not recommended. The intended purpose is to highlight shared characteristics, but the grammatical error undermines clarity and professionalism. When writing, pay attention to article-noun agreement to avoid this error.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a common features"?

The grammatically correct alternatives are "common features" (plural, referring to multiple shared characteristics) or "a common feature" (singular, referring to one shared characteristic).

Is "a common features" grammatically correct?

No, "a common features" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "common features" or "a common feature".

When should I use "common features" versus "a common feature"?

Use "common features" when referring to multiple shared characteristics. Use "a common feature" when referring to a single shared characteristic.

What are some alternatives to "common features"?

Alternatives include "shared traits", "typical characteristics", or "common attributes". The best choice depends on the specific context.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: