a common human experience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common human experience" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to feelings, situations, or events that many people share or relate to across different cultures and backgrounds. Example: "Grief is a common human experience that connects us all, regardless of our individual circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

But among brain researchers, the moment is a fascinating display of a common human experience: the brain freeze.

The New York Times

Religious and cultural gender stereotypes are hinted at, but the journey from youthful hope to maturity's silenced acquiescence also resonates as a common human experience.

The Guardian - Books

The exhilaration of the open road and the feeling of connectedness to the natural world that it can produce, is, after all, a common human experience.

The New York Times - Books

"Parenthood is such a common human experience, and yet it's sort of taken for granted in literary terms," Rachel Bowlby says.

Princeton University

And we thought about the ways in which the war experience as described in Homer's Illiad and the war experience as described by returning veterans give voice to a common human experience in the face of the loss of a certain sort of structure.

Yale University

There's still a lot of stigma out there, despite the fact that mental health problems are a common human experience.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

As a result, the common human experience of grief becomes intoxicatingly, sometimes comically strange.

The New York Times

We have a moral imperative to interject the ideas of anthropology and the common human experience into the discourse and emphasize social justice and the need to act responsibly, with true cultural understanding, to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place.

Huffington Post

And yet the story's key point - that a perception of rejection and the reality of suffering, followed by the inevitability of death (surely, the common human experience) can be transformed by God alone - is a tremendously important one.

The Guardian

For Ricoeur, we conceive of evil through the realm of myth, or grand narratives that express common human experience.

The New York Times

They are puppets of an unrelentingly inflated rhetoricism, numb to pain and immune to wit, that touches ground nowhere in common human experience.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a common human experience" to connect with your audience by referencing shared emotions or situations.

Common error

Avoid using "a common human experience" to describe events or feelings that are specific to certain groups or cultures. Ensure the experience is genuinely widespread.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common human experience" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject complement or object to describe something widely shared or felt among people. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form in writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a common human experience" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI, that refers to feelings, situations, or events that many people share across cultures. While its frequency is uncommon, its purpose is to foster connection and shared understanding. The phrase is versatile, fitting into both formal and informal contexts. Related alternatives include "a shared human condition" or "a universal human trait". When using this phrase, ensure the experience is genuinely widespread to avoid overgeneralization. Top sources using this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian and Huffington Post.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shared human condition

Focuses on the inherent state of being human that is shared by everyone.

a collective human experience

Highlights the shared aspect of an event or feeling among a group.

a universal human trait

Highlights specific characteristics or behaviors common to all people.

a widespread human feeling

Emphasizes the prevalence of certain emotions among humans.

a typical human reaction

Focuses on common responses to specific stimuli or situations.

a familiar human situation

Refers to scenarios or circumstances that are commonly encountered.

a common thread of humanity

Highlights the shared experience across all humans, like a shared value.

a prevalent aspect of humanity

Emphasizes how commonly a feature is found across humanity.

a frequent human occurrence

Highlights how something happen repeatedly among humans.

a general human phenomenon

Emphasizes that something is a typical or a recognizable human issue.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a common human experience" in my writing?

Use "a common human experience" to establish empathy and rapport with your audience by referring to widely shared feelings, situations, or challenges. For example, you could say, "Grief is "a common human experience" that connects us all".

What are some alternatives to "a common human experience"?

Depending on the nuance you want to convey, consider using alternatives like "a shared human condition", "a universal human trait", or "a collective human experience".

Is it appropriate to use "a common human experience" in formal writing?

Yes, "a common human experience" is suitable for formal writing as it is grammatically correct and widely understood. However, ensure that the context is appropriate and that the experience you are referring to is genuinely common.

Can "a common human experience" be used to describe negative situations?

Yes, "a common human experience" can describe both positive and negative situations. For instance, you can refer to the experience of overcoming adversity or dealing with loss as "a common human experience".