a highly common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a highly common" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used to describe something that is very frequent or widespread, but the word "highly" is not commonly paired with "common." Example: "It is a common misconception that all swans are white."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Functional dyspepsia is a highly common disorder.

Gastroenterología y Hepatología

It's still a highly common technique in both theatre and even public concerts.

The Guardian

Calling all noses: Nose picking is a highly common pastime in which most folks (big and small) partake.

Columbia University

Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, has become a highly common disorder, afflicting 16 million to 20 million people in the United States.

The New York Times - Health

In addition to B16 melanoma, we found that IFN-γ could also induce TRCs from other types of murine tumour cells into dormancy (Supplementary Fig. 1a), representing a highly common phenomenon.

Nature

Undo lets people go back on the person they just swiped left on, a highly common accident, and Passport lets people search outside their geographic region.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Using a dataset of highly common markers makes it possible to increase the confidence interval of a QTL.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

Gastric carcinoma is a malignant tumor that is highly common all over the world and ranks second among all malignant tumors in China [1].

Nanoscale Research Letters

The resulting mutant mice showed abnormal blood accumulation in the branchial arch region, and arterial abnormalities including a common arterial trunk (failure of the aorta and pulmonary artery to divide) and a highly aneurysmal common aortic sac.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly symptomatic, common seasonal infection that affects most children by the age of 2 years and is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection requiring hospitalization among infants and young children [4].

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

COBOL was intended to a be a highly portable, "common" language.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how often something occurs, use "very common" or "extremely common" instead of "a highly common". This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

While "highly" can intensify adjectives, it doesn't pair well with "common". Using it creates an awkward phrasing. Stick to more established combinations like "very common" or "extremely common".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a highly common" functions as a descriptive modifier, aiming to emphasize the frequency or prevalence of something. However, Ludwig AI points out that the phrase is not considered standard English usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a highly common" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English prefers alternatives like "a very common" or "an extremely common" to describe something that occurs frequently. Although it appears in science, news, and wiki contexts, its incorrect usage detracts from its effectiveness. Therefore, it is best to avoid "a highly common" and opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and correctness in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a very common

Replaces "highly" with "very", a more standard and grammatically correct intensifier for "common".

an extremely common

Substitutes "highly" with "extremely" to convey a high degree of commonness in a grammatically sound way.

a frequently occurring

Replaces "common" with "frequently occurring", changing the structure while keeping the meaning.

a widespread

Uses a single adjective, "widespread", to describe something that is generally encountered.

a prevalent

Replaces "common" with "prevalent" to indicate something is widely existing or occurring.

a typical

Suggests something that conforms to a standard or norm, similar to being common.

a usual

Indicates something that is habitually or regularly occurring, synonymous with common.

a familiar

Implies something well-known or easily recognized, akin to being common.

a routine

Describes something done as part of a regular procedure rather than being extraordinary.

a garden-variety

Indicates something ordinary or undistinguished from others of its type.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "a highly common"?

Instead of "a highly common", you can use phrases like "a very common", "an extremely common", or "a frequently occurring" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a highly common"?

No, it is not considered grammatically correct. The phrasing is awkward, and standard English prefers alternatives like "a very common" or "an extremely common".

When should I use "very common" instead of "a highly common"?

Always. "Very common" is the standard and accepted way to express that something occurs frequently or is widespread. "A highly common" is not standard usage.

What's the difference between "a highly common" and "a common"?

"A common" means something occurs often or is widespread. "A highly common" is an incorrect phrasing; to intensify "common", use "a very common" or "an extremely common".