a commonplace sight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a commonplace sight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is frequently seen or is very common in a particular context or location. Example: "In the bustling city, street performers are a commonplace sight, entertaining passersby with their talents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Page 9 EYES ABOVE AFGHANISTAN Cheaper and easier to use than spy drones, American military surveillance balloons have become a commonplace sight in the skies above Afghanistan, but many people feel the cameras are an outrageous intrusion into private lives.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

While self-driving cars are having a tough time achieving acceptance on America's highways, self-driving combines and tractors are an increasingly commonplace sight in America's wheat and corn fields.

TechCrunch

A young man leapt forward to ask for a selfie with the bizarre, yet now commonplace, sight of combat troops on the streets of Paris.

The Guardian

With iPhones and iPads becoming an exceedingly commonplace sighting on college campuses, it makes sense for App developers to try to pitch their wares to universities for bulk licensing deals.

TechCrunch

Staff on the unit deal with this lack of pleasing scenery for months and years at a time, while also facing disturbing yet commonplace sights like infected body parts and human bodily fluids.

Huffington Post

On taking office, President Duterte promptly started his promised anti-drug campaign and dead bodies became commonplace sights on city streets nationwide, sometimes accompanied by a crude cardboard sign reading "I am a pusher," or simply with their faces wrapped in the by-now trademark packing tape used by the Davao Death Squad.

Huffington Post

Illustrating the festival spirit which had taken hold, with local businesses selling tea and coffee to those queuing, Fraser-King had met some locals who were going to take the three of them to see some of the other more commonplace sights in Leicester before they began the drive home.

The Guardian

Hopefully someday series like this one will be as commonplace a sight as a heavily Photoshopped girl in a bikini.

Huffington Post

Wasserstein died before her method — hiding in plain sight — had become a commonplace phenomenon, available to anyone with even modest computer skills.

The New York Times

We're so used to it, it's been such a commonplace part of pop music for so long (since the late 1980s), that it's easy to lose sight of what a peculiar thing it is.

The Guardian - Music

The sight of unhappy witnesses wriggling in front of their select committee inquisitors is becoming almost a commonplace.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a commonplace sight" to emphasize the frequency and lack of novelty of something seen in a specific environment. For instance, describe how surveillance balloons are "a commonplace sight" in Afghanistan to highlight their frequent presence and impact.

Common error

While "a commonplace sight" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid using it excessively in formal or academic writing where more precise or technical language might be more appropriate. Instead, consider alternatives like "a common occurrence" or "a frequent phenomenon".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a commonplace sight" functions as a noun phrase describing something frequently observed. As Ludwig AI explains, it denotes something that is very common in a particular context, and its grammatical status is correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a commonplace sight" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something frequently observed, indicating it has become ordinary and expected. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. While the phrase is suitable for news and general descriptions, it might need adjustments for more formal or scientific writing. Alternatives include "a common occurrence" or "a familiar sight". With a source quality score of 88 and an expert rating of 4.5, this phrase is both reliable and understandable, making it a useful addition to descriptive writing, provided the context is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a common occurrence

Focuses on the event's frequency rather than its visual aspect.

a usual occurrence

Simple variation to emphasize that something is usual or normal.

a frequent spectacle

Emphasizes the visual and often public nature of the event.

a familiar spectacle

Implies that the sight is not only common but also well-known.

a common phenomenon

Emphasizes that the sight is a regularly occurring phenomenon.

a regular feature

Highlights the consistent presence of something in a specific context.

a typical phenomenon

Highlights that it's a common phenomenon rather than just something one sees.

a typical view

Suggests that the sight is representative of a standard scene.

an everyday scene

Underscores the ordinariness and lack of surprise associated with the sight.

a usual view

A simpler way to say the view is normal or ordinary.

FAQs

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

You can use "a commonplace sight" to describe something that is frequently seen and no longer surprising in a particular context. For example: "In this city, street performers are "a commonplace sight"."

What are some alternatives to "a commonplace sight"?

Some alternatives include "a common occurrence", "a familiar sight", or "a frequent spectacle", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "commonplace sighting" the same as "a commonplace sight"?

"A commonplace sight" refers to something that is frequently seen. "Commonplace sighting", while similar, often implies the act of seeing something common. The phrases are largely interchangeable, but the former refers more to the object, the latter to the event.

When is it appropriate to use "a commonplace sight" in writing?

It is appropriate when you want to emphasize that something is so frequently seen that it has become ordinary or expected in a particular setting. It can be used in both descriptive and narrative writing to set the tone or provide context.