The phrase "a common tale" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a story, anecdote, or narrative that is widely known or often told, such as a fable or fairy tale. For example: "Pinocchio is a common tale about the adventures of a wooden puppet."
Starting over is a common tale nowadays in Detroit.
Abu Ali is a 23-year-old Sunni with a soft middle and a common tale.
On one level, the plight of this obscure fund is a common tale involving the hazards of foreign aid.
But, for now, he must earn money.His is a common tale in modern Tibet: even as they take advantage of some of the economic opportunities Chinese rule has brought, many Tibetans remain staunchly proud of their own culture.
The story of the regeneration of Woodbury Down estate in Hackney, recently subject to a six-month investigation by the Guardian, is a common tale of the nature of "affordable" housing provision across London.
While the dispute is a common tale of developers confronted by residents, it also has policy implications in a state where public officials are trying to combat sprawl by making urban redevelopment more attractive.
As I talked to these children of fundamentalism about the men who led them, as I read departure stories, as I listened to the common tales of sexual abuse and extreme corporal punishment -- I began to realize that I was part of a common story -- and we had all met the same demons: men who abuse their spiritual authority while genuinely believing that they speak for God.
In fact the story of Hostess, as much a fixture as Chevy when I was a kid, is the common tale of extreme debt, real obligations to real live workers and an inability to change with the times.[1] Pick your reasons, but don't forget this one: Hostess never even pretended to provide "healthier" snacks.
However, the story, which is a common Kahnawake tale, was refuted as early as 1882 and does not appear to have significantly affected American perception of the raid.
