a common speaker

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common speaker" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone who speaks frequently or is often heard in a particular context, such as public speaking or discussions. Example: "In our community, John is known as a common speaker at local events, sharing his insights on various topics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

A Commons Speaker with a reputation for being long-winded, whose rulings did not always go down well with MPs.

The Times

In a statement, Commons Speaker John Bercow said: "I believe there can be a profound dignity and deep respect both expressed in and through silence and I am sure that the House will agree".

Independent

John Bercow, the Conservative MP who is the frontrunner in next week's election for a new Commons speaker, might be overthrown if the Conservatives win the general election.

The Guardian

We've had the locals, the Europeans, the unofficial Labour leadership contest (although with only one candidate in the ring, it didn't quite take off), and now we've got the vote for a new Commons Speaker.

The Guardian

We have proved that for common speakers a cost-efficient cross-lingual adaptation can be done even with a training dataset smaller than the usual databases for training speech recognizers.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

On 15 February 2008, the House of Commons was granted its own heraldic symbol following a request by Commons Speaker Peter Milliken to the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Wikipedia

Media captionSpeaker John Bercow said addressing Parliament was "not an automatic right" Commons Speaker John Bercow has defended voicing his opposition to Donald Trump addressing Parliament.

BBC

The same idea can be used to adapt existing models for common speakers to the needs of handicapped speakers.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

In a letter to the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, released on Tuesday, Cox said the demand in the original motion was "extremely vague" and impossible for him to fulfil.

The Guardian

Cameron dismissed Miliband as a "con man" after pledging to introduce a 20-month price freeze if he wins the election, prompting a rebuke from the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, for using unparliamentary language.

The Guardian - Business

A spokesperson for the Commons' Speaker said the suggestion would be looked at.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a common speaker", consider whether "frequent", "regular", or "well-known" might be more precise depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Common error

Avoid using "a common speaker" when you actually mean someone who is skilled or impactful. Instead, opt for phrases like "an effective speaker", "a compelling speaker", or "a persuasive speaker". "Common" simply indicates frequency or ordinariness, not necessarily quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common speaker" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object. It identifies an individual characterized by their frequency or ordinariness as a speaker. Ludwig indicates this is generally correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a common speaker" is grammatically sound but relatively infrequent. As Ludwig confirms, it denotes someone who speaks frequently or is generally known. While acceptable, it's important to consider whether alternatives like "a frequent speaker" or "a regular speaker" might be more precise in conveying the intended meaning. The phrase finds occasional use in news and general contexts but is less common in formal or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a frequent speaker

Replaces "common" with "frequent", emphasizing the regularity of speaking.

a regular speaker

Substitutes "common" with "regular", highlighting consistent appearances or engagements in speaking.

a usual speaker

Highlights the speaker's customary presence.

a well-known speaker

Focuses on the speaker's reputation and recognition.

a familiar speaker

Implies the speaker is known or recognized by the audience.

a typical speaker

Indicates the speaker is representative of a certain group or context.

a standard speaker

Emphasizes the speaker's adherence to certain norms or expectations.

an average speaker

Suggests the speaker is neither particularly exceptional nor deficient.

a general speaker

Denotes the speaker's broad or non-specialized nature.

an ordinary speaker

Focuses on the speaker's lack of distinction or special qualities.

FAQs

What does "a common speaker" mean?

The phrase "a common speaker" refers to someone who speaks frequently or is regularly heard in a particular setting or context. It suggests familiarity or ordinariness rather than exceptional skill.

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

You can use alternatives like "a frequent speaker", "a regular speaker", or "a well-known speaker" depending on the context.

Is "a common speaker" the same as "an eloquent speaker"?

No, "a common speaker" simply means someone who speaks often. In contrast, "an eloquent speaker" refers to someone who speaks with grace and persuasiveness, highlighting their skill rather than frequency.

How to use "a common speaker" in a sentence?

You might say, "He's a common speaker at local events, always sharing his insights." This indicates he frequently speaks at those events.