a common interpretation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common interpretation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing widely accepted or shared understandings of a concept, idea, or text. Example: "In literary analysis, a common interpretation of the poem is that it reflects the struggles of the human condition."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Based on the assumption that expert reviewers should be able to come to exact agreement about how to apply the possible five levels of scoring to each questions, consensus indexes of interpreter reliability were computed as estimates of how experts shared a common interpretation of the construct.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

A common interpretation is that there are strong temperature fluctuations within the nebulae.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It would have required a common interpretation of the past, and that meant dealing with Katyn, a taboo under Communism.

The New York Times

According to Al-Ahram, a "common interpretation" of the arrests is that they are a signal from Mubarak to the public that the Muslim Brotherhood "will never be part" of government reform in Egypt.

The New Yorker

The Times article challenged a common interpretation of the atlas's findings: that the hospitals and geographic regions with the highest medical spending are often the ones delivering the worst medical care.

The New York Times

The two main political parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNPP) and the Awami League, find it impossible to reach a common interpretation of democratic rules and to accept the legitimacy of those enforcing them.On December 5th, the two parties agreed to suspend their mud-slinging contest, at least temporarily.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The law as written and interpreted, the grand jury complained in a statement, seemed to allow late-term abortions to prevent health problems that "as a matter of common interpretation" were not "substantial and irreversible".

The New York Times

In a single work, the common interpretation could change over time because the experiment of a text is repeated that allows for different conclusions.

Huffington Post

When the majority of the constituent factors in a group shared a common semantic interpretation, we adopted this semantic interpretation as a label for a network risk construct dimension.

Security Informatics

We thus suggest a reappraisal of the common interpretation of the mechanisms underlying the "template-label matching model" and the "bar-code" hypothesis [25].

Plosone

And this in turn raises in a pointed way a general difficulty in the common interpretation of Kant's theory of judgment: the tendency to hold that his logic and theory of judgment are at bottom epistemological or empirical psychological theories.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a common interpretation", ensure the context clearly indicates whose interpretation is being referred to. If it's truly universal, that strengthens the statement; if it's specific to a group, clarify that.

Common error

Avoid using "a common interpretation" when the understanding is only common within a niche group or specific field. Qualify the statement to reflect the actual scope of the interpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common interpretation" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It refers to a generally accepted understanding or explanation. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and is used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a common interpretation" is a versatile noun phrase used to denote a widely accepted understanding of a concept or event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriateness across various contexts, particularly in scientific, news, and encyclopedic sources. While relatively frequent, it's crucial to ensure the 'common' aspect is genuinely representative and not just a localized viewpoint. Alternatives such as "a shared understanding" or "a widely accepted view" can offer nuanced variations depending on the intended emphasis. When employing this phrase, consider its potential to overgeneralize and strive for precision in reflecting the actual scope of the interpretation being discussed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shared understanding

Focuses on the shared aspect of the understanding, emphasizing agreement among individuals.

a widely accepted view

Highlights the broad acceptance of the viewpoint, indicating popularity and general agreement.

a prevalent understanding

Emphasizes the widespread nature of the understanding, suggesting it's commonly held.

a general consensus

Stresses the agreement among a group, indicating a collective opinion or belief.

a mainstream viewpoint

Indicates that the viewpoint is part of the dominant or most popular perspective.

an established belief

Suggests that the belief is well-founded and has been accepted for a considerable time.

a conventional wisdom

Highlights that the interpretation is traditional and widely accepted, often without critical examination.

a typical explanation

Focuses on the explanation being ordinary and frequently used.

a standard reading

Emphasizes that the interpretation is the usual or expected way to understand something.

a frequent assumption

Highlights that the assumption is commonly made.

FAQs

What does "a common interpretation" mean?

The phrase "a common interpretation" refers to a widely accepted or generally understood explanation or understanding of something, such as a text, event, or concept.

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

You can use "a common interpretation" to introduce a widely held view or explanation. For example: "A common interpretation of the poem is that it symbolizes the struggle for freedom."

What are some alternatives to "a common interpretation"?

You can use alternatives like "a shared understanding", "a widely accepted view", or "a prevalent understanding" depending on the context.

Is it always accurate to assume there is "a common interpretation"?

No, assuming there is always "a common interpretation" can be misleading because interpretations can vary based on individual perspectives, cultural backgrounds, and specific contexts. It's important to acknowledge that multiple interpretations may exist.