a common plight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common plight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or hardship that many people experience or face together. Example: "The rising cost of living has become a common plight for families across the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

She soon realized that hers was a common plight among parents.

The New York Times

They were now united in a common plight, holding empty cardboard boxes and turning their backs to a bitter wind.

The New York Times

Admittedly, the Travellers and the Roma also share a common plight: whether in Ireland, Romania or their adopted UK home, they are perceived as outsiders, their communities ostracised and marginalised.

The Guardian - Opinion

Otari's run-in with hackers may be an extreme case, but its experience underscores a common plight of business: total ignorance of telecom costs.

Forbes

Though individual Latinos and African Americans recognize connections around a common plight and agenda, there is still much to be done toward moving from recognition to joint action.

Huffington Post

Child marriage is a common plight in Bangladesh.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It is a veritable baseball bat of a book, and written with a strong sense of "common plight" or "solidarity" with Anglo-Jews.

Independent

Done in private, it's a way for soldiers to blow off steam and commiserate about their common plight.

The New York Times

Perhaps the problem is scorn for the common plight.

The New York Times

This is the common plight of the comedian with ambitions beyond comedy.

The New Yorker

Operating without E-ZPass — or one of the similar programs around the country that use electronic toll recording to speed drivers through toll booths — used to be the common plight of rental car customers.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a common plight", ensure the context clearly establishes who shares the difficulty and what the difficulty entails. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your message.

Common error

Avoid using "a common plight" when the hardship is only experienced by a small, specific group. Always ensure the plight is genuinely widespread within the intended population.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common plight" functions as a noun phrase. It identifies a shared difficult situation or misfortune experienced by a group. Ludwig shows its use in describing shared challenges across various populations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Formal & Business

14%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a common plight" effectively describes a shared difficult situation or misfortune. As Ludwig AI indicates, its grammatical structure is correct and the phrase is most commonly used in News & Media contexts. While synonyms like "a shared hardship" or "a collective struggle" offer similar meanings, it's important to ensure the context aligns with the widespread nature of the difficulty being described. Understanding its register and avoiding overgeneralization will ensure the phrase is used accurately and effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shared hardship

Emphasizes the difficulty and the fact that it's experienced by multiple people.

a collective struggle

Highlights the effort and resistance against a shared problem.

a mutual difficulty

Focuses on the problematic nature of the situation and its shared experience.

a universal predicament

Suggests that the problem affects almost everyone, emphasizing its widespread nature.

a widespread adversity

Highlights the misfortune and its broad reach.

a shared misfortune

Focuses on the unfortunate nature of the shared event or situation.

a joint tribulation

Emphasizes the suffering and the fact that it's experienced together.

a united front against adversity

Shifts the focus to the cooperative response to shared adversity.

experiencing similar hardships

Expresses the commonality in experiencing difficult circumstances.

facing the same challenges

Highlights the shared difficulties and obstacles encountered.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a common plight" in a sentence?

To effectively use "a common plight", clearly define the group experiencing the hardship and the nature of the hardship itself. For instance, "The rising cost of education is a common plight for many students" illustrates this clearly.

What are some alternatives to "a common plight"?

Alternatives to "a common plight" include "a shared hardship", "a collective struggle", or "a mutual difficulty". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "a common plight"?

Using "a common plight" can be misleading if the hardship is not genuinely widespread. Ensure the difficulty is experienced by a significant portion of the group you're referencing.

What's the difference between "a common plight" and "a shared plight"?

"A common plight" and "a shared plight" are largely interchangeable. Both describe a difficult situation experienced by multiple people. The choice often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.