a common thinking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common thinking" is not correct in English.
The correct expression would be "common thinking" or "a common thought." You can use it when discussing widely held beliefs or ideas that are prevalent among a group of people. Example: "In many cultures, there is a common thinking that education is the key to success."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I feel sorry that a common thinking to fight terrorism is not emerging in our country.

The New York Times

But that we can do only if we have a common thinking.

The New York Times

I later learned that I found myself in this situation in part because of a common thinking error which scientists call the mere-exposure effect.

Huffington Post

For example, classic cognitive theory identifies 'discounting the positives' as a common thinking error in depression (e.g. Beck, 1995) and the importance of examining positive content in models of specificity has been highlighted (Clark, Beck, & Alford, 1999).

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

There's still a strand of common thinking that Foals are essentially just a math-rock band and whilst they are still armed with plenty of sonic attributes to align with that: complex, looping and twinkling guitar lines laid over rapid fire drums etc, they have evolved into a much heavier, grittier and riff-based outfit and this is perhaps the biggest takeaway from tonight's performance.

Independent

Among the diverse sessions on offer at World Water Week in Stockholm, I've noticed a thread of common thinking: nexus thinking.

The Guardian

The common thinking, wrote a former director of the Nutrition Division of the United Nations, was that the ideal diet, one that prevented obesity, snacking and excessive sugar consumption, was a diet "with plenty of eggs, beef, mutton, chicken, butter and well-cooked vegetables".

The New York Times - Magazine

This approach is part of a broader strategy of dealing with common thinking errors by considering alternatives, which research shows is a very effective way for avoiding thinking errors such as the mere-exposure effect.

Huffington Post

This article argues there is an urgent need to challenge common thinking on health care provision under extreme resource scarcity.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Although the lead series criteria are specific to a given project, one can organize the common thinking about this process and some of its criteria.

Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry

The common thinking in the Capitol is that a few defections could cause a stampede.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing shared beliefs, use alternatives like "a shared understanding" or "a widespread belief" for more precise and natural-sounding language.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because a phrase appears in published sources, it is necessarily grammatically sound. "A common thinking" is often perceived as awkward; refining your wording enhances clarity and precision. Therefore using "common thinking" is a better approach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common thinking" functions as a noun phrase. While not strictly incorrect, it's less common than alternatives. Ludwig shows that while it appears in various sources, it's often used in contexts where a more precise term would be more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a common thinking" refers to a shared or widespread viewpoint. While it appears in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it's not considered grammatically ideal, suggesting that "common thinking" or "a common thought" are generally preferred. Depending on the specific context, alternatives such as "shared understanding" or "widespread belief" can offer greater clarity. Using more standard phrasings enhances the impact and credibility of your writing by ensuring grammatical correctness and avoiding awkward constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shared understanding

Emphasizes mutual comprehension and agreement on a particular topic.

a widespread belief

Highlights the broad acceptance of a particular idea or concept.

a prevailing view

Focuses on the dominant or most accepted perspective on an issue.

a general consensus

Indicates a collective agreement reached by a group of people.

a collective mindset

Refers to the shared attitudes and beliefs within a group.

a conventional wisdom

Highlights beliefs or ideas that are widely accepted, often without critical examination.

a public opinion

Focuses on the views held by the general population.

a dominant ideology

Emphasizes the set of beliefs that are most influential in a society.

a mainstream thought

Refers to ideas that are widely accepted and considered normal.

a received wisdom

Highlights ideas that have been passed down and accepted without questioning.

FAQs

Is "a common thinking" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "a common thinking" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The more appropriate phrasing would be "common thinking" or "a common thought".

What are some alternatives to "a common thinking"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a shared understanding", "a widespread belief", or "a prevailing view" instead of "a common thinking".

When can I use "common thinking"?

"Common thinking" is suitable when referring to ideas or beliefs that are generally accepted by a group of people. For example, "The common thinking is that hard work leads to success."

How can I improve my writing to avoid using awkward phrases like "a common thinking"?

Focus on using more precise and natural-sounding language. Review your writing and replace potentially awkward phrases with alternatives like "general consensus", "collective mindset", or "conventional wisdom" depending on the intended meaning.