a commonplace experience

USAGE SUMMARY

"a commonplace experience" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about something that is common or ordinary and people are likely to have had experience with it. Example sentence: "Going to the grocery store is a commonplace experience for many people."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

His miracle cure was a commonplace experience for many of Cairo's Jews who sometimes called it the "Jewish Lourdes".

The New York Times

At the same time, though, she warns that aging is such a "commonplace experience" that nobody should "behave as though … uniquely afflicted".

The New Yorker

What's it worth?" whenever they sought interviews or photographs, a routine that is now said to be a commonplace experience for local reporters today.

The Guardian

Living alone for the first time is a commonplace experience in terms of the realisation, and acceptance, of unopposed selfish- ness.

The Guardian

Who of us has returned to a childhood home or a city that may have figured prominently in his biography without knowing full well that seeing it again was bound to be an experience at once exciting and sad? "Haunted by the past" is a commonplace phrase because it's a commonplace experience.

The New Yorker

Feeling alienated from contemporary architecture is a commonplace experience: the pleasure that leaches out of your afternoon stroll when you have to walk along a big building with a flat, smooth, featureless front; bafflement at another magazine spread celebrating a conglomeration of soul-less boxes.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

And a thoroughly commonplace experience – everywhere, always – so get on with it and don't behave as though you are uniquely afflicted.

The Guardian - Books

Mussels on another appetizer plate were slightly overcooked, but the white wine broth was terrific, lacking only better tasting tomatoes (a surprisingly commonplace experience in area restaurants, despite August's being prime tomato time).

The New York Times

It's a less commonplace experience, though, to feel yourself becoming actively less well-informed as you read, as if the celebrity's words were eliminating your brain-cells, one by one, like bubble-wrap being popped.

The Guardian - Opinion

Williams, who has died aged 78, would go on from this formative and (for a poet) oddly commonplace experience to become one of the towering figures of postwar anglophone poetry, producing a body of work that – as he said of Eliot's poems – "lead[s] you to states of mind and music you'd never have come to otherwise".

The Guardian - Books

According to Thomas Carew, a neuroscientist at Yale University, the commonplace experience that the most reliable way to build a long-term memory is through repeated exposure to the thing to be remembered, rather than by short-term "cramming", is reflected at the molecular level.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a commonplace experience" to underscore the ordinariness or lack of novelty in a given situation. This can effectively highlight a contrast when something unexpected arises within that context.

Common error

Avoid using "a commonplace experience" too frequently in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise or sophisticated language to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a commonplace experience" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an object. It describes something that is widely known and frequently encountered, indicating a lack of uniqueness or novelty. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a commonplace experience" describes an event or situation that is widely known and frequently encountered. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. While the phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. When writing, consider the degree of formality required and ensure it aligns with the overall tone of your piece. For alternative options, consider using phrases like "a common occurrence" or ""a familiar experience"" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a common occurrence

Focuses on the event's frequency rather than individual perception.

a usual event

Highlights the typical nature of the event.

a routine affair

Emphasizes the lack of novelty or excitement.

an everyday situation

Stresses the daily and unremarkable aspect of the event.

a frequent phenomenon

Emphasizes the repeated appearance and broad understanding.

a typical incident

Focuses on the representativeness of the incident.

a widespread practice

Highlights that it's something that is broadly adopted.

a familiar sight

Highlights the recognizability and lack of surprise associated with it.

a garden-variety experience

Adds a touch of informality and emphasizes ordinariness.

an unexceptional happening

Underscores the lack of uniqueness or special qualities.

FAQs

What does "a commonplace experience" mean?

It refers to something that is ordinary, frequent, and widely encountered. It's an event or situation that doesn't stand out as unusual or unique.

How can I use "a commonplace experience" in a sentence?

You might say, "Dealing with traffic is "a common experience" for city dwellers," or "Forgetting someone's name is "a familiar experience" as we age."

What can I say instead of "a commonplace experience"?

You can use alternatives like "a common occurrence", "a usual event", or "a routine affair" depending on the context.

Is "commonplace experience" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral, but it can lean toward informal depending on the context. In formal writing, consider using more specific and descriptive language.