a commonplace thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a commonplace thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is ordinary, usual, or frequently encountered in everyday life. Example: "In today's society, using smartphones has become a commonplace thing for communication and information access."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It's just a commonplace thing.

The Guardian - Music

A commonplace thing, accident or loss, it may mean nothing here and everything there".

The New York Times - Books

Reno is a persuasive and moving narrator because Ms. Kushner allows her the vulnerability and fuzzy-mindedness of youth while rarely allowing her to think or say a commonplace thing.

The New York Times - Books

What does its narrator, Sal Paradise, say? "* * * The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles.

The New York Times

As with "Deep Thoughts," some of Browning's poems are meandering in their syntax and awkward in their analogies, yet their seeming ineptitude is the mechanism that makes them work, leading the reader to see a commonplace thing in a surprising way.

The New York Times - Magazine

It might sound like a commonplace thing to say, but you just don't get anywhere in politics – you just don't get off first base – unless you first do the homework within your own party to make sure, broadly speaking, the party's pulling in the same direction.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It would have been a very commonplace thing for her to go to a festival, but nobody knew me then, and she was so nice to me.

The Guardian - Books

The most commonplace thing is now imbued with danger -- fearsome bacteria lurk in the salad bar amid croutons, a newly minted carcinogen foments in the fabric softener -- and staying tuned provides the only safety.

The New York Times - Magazine

It seems it consists chiefly of him saying plain things in a fashion that makes them hard to understand, and commonplace things in a mysterious form which makes them seem oracular".

The New York Times - Books

They show such commonplace things as rural landscapes, a dog, a light bulb, a chair, a bicycle and boxcars.

The New York Times

It seems odd that someone so clever, who had spent so much of her life dealing with Christianity, should find out some fairly commonplace things about her former religion only through making a television programme.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a commonplace thing" to emphasize the ordinariness or lack of uniqueness of something, especially when contrasting it with something exceptional or unexpected. This can add depth to your writing.

Common error

While acceptable, "a commonplace thing" can sometimes sound slightly informal. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "a common occurrence" or "a typical event" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a commonplace thing" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or an object. It identifies something as ordinary, routine, or frequently encountered. Ludwig confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Books

20%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a commonplace thing" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression denoting something ordinary or frequently encountered. According to Ludwig, it's most frequently used in news and media contexts, though its neutral register allows for broader application. While acceptable, be mindful of the context and consider more formal alternatives in academic or professional settings. When using the phrase, the key is to emphasize the lack of uniqueness of whatever you're describing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for written English and effectively conveys its intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an ordinary occurrence

Emphasizes the frequency and lack of uniqueness of the event.

a common event

Highlights the frequency and widespread nature of the event.

an everyday matter

Focuses on the routine and mundane aspect of the subject.

a typical situation

Suggests the conformity of the situation to a general pattern.

a usual circumstance

Indicates that the circumstance is not exceptional or surprising.

a routine affair

Highlights the predictable and uneventful nature of the affair.

a standard practice

Implies an established and widely accepted way of doing things.

a normal state of affairs

Suggests that the situation is expected and not out of the ordinary.

a frequent phenomenon

Emphasizes the repeated occurrence of a particular event or situation.

a general experience

Suggests that many people share the same experience, making it unremarkable.

FAQs

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

You can use "a commonplace thing" to describe something that is ordinary, usual, or frequently encountered. For example: "Finding traffic jams during rush hour is "a commonplace thing" in the city".

What phrases are similar to "a commonplace thing"?

Alternatives to "a commonplace thing" include phrases like "a common occurrence", "a typical situation", or "an everyday matter".

Is it always appropriate to use "a commonplace thing" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "a commonplace thing" might be too informal for some academic contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives like "a common phenomenon" or "a regular practice" in such cases.

What is the difference between "a commonplace thing" and "a trivial thing"?

While both phrases describe something ordinary, "a trivial thing" implies that something is insignificant or unimportant, whereas "a commonplace thing" simply means it's common or ordinary without necessarily being unimportant.