a quite common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a quite common" is not correct in standard English; it should be "quite common" or "a common." You can use "quite common" to describe something that occurs frequently or is widely accepted.
Example: "It is quite common for people to feel nervous before a job interview."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

It's a quite common phenomenon for a recently deceased loved one to "revisit" the living in their dreams.

The New York Times

At some level then, this is a quite common feature, but it is a real shock to see it in such a dinosaur.

The Guardian

Latte I'm a relative fan of coffee, but can't get enthusiastic about milk: it's a quite common cause of food sensitivity which can cause gut problems, catarrh and nasal congestion.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There is a quite common acceptance in medical circles that the cell-let's call it the egg-once it has been fertilized is on it's way as a human being whose with individual physical traits & personality characteristics have already been established determined.

The New York Times - Magazine

This is a quite common bound in M-DVC literature.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

This is a quite common assumption in LDPCA and Turbo code-based DVC [5, 6].

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Finally, nonrespiratory hemerythrins (clade A) are quite common in eukaryotes and have recruited several companion domains in different lineages.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Probably what she had was the beginnings of renal failure, an ailment quite common in a 15-year-old cat.

The New York Times

Max's particular parasomnia is a disorder quite common in very young children but rare in adults.

The New Yorker

It's a template quite common in homegrown comedies: the frustrated middle-aged man both encouraged and unwittingly sabotaged by a younger, dumber sidekick.

The Guardian - Opinion

This was an approach quite common to anti-Zionist Jewish intellectuals before Israel's establishment.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain grammatical correctness, use "quite common" or "a common" instead of "a quite common". For example, "It is quite common to see that phenomenon" or "That's a common mistake".

Common error

Avoid using the article "a" before "quite common". Although it might sound acceptable in informal contexts, it deviates from standard English grammar and can affect clarity and credibility in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quite common" functions as a descriptive phrase attempting to characterize something as frequent or typical. However, Ludwig AI indicates this construction is grammatically incorrect, advising against its use in formal writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a quite common" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI analysis confirms it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct forms are "quite common" or "a common". Although its intended purpose is to indicate frequency or typicality, it's best to avoid "a quite common" in formal and professional writing. Alternative phrases like "fairly typical", or "reasonably frequent" can be used instead to convey the same meaning with greater grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly typical

Replaces 'common' with 'typical' and 'quite' with 'fairly', softening the intensity slightly.

reasonably frequent

Substitutes 'common' with 'frequent' and uses 'reasonably' instead of 'quite', indicating a moderate level of occurrence.

moderately prevalent

Replaces 'common' with 'prevalent', suggesting widespread existence, and 'quite' with 'moderately' for a milder emphasis.

somewhat usual

Uses 'usual' instead of 'common' and 'somewhat' in place of 'quite', indicating something that happens with some regularity but isn't necessarily exceptional.

rather ordinary

Replaces 'common' with 'ordinary', implying a lack of distinction, and 'quite' with 'rather', suggesting a noticeable degree of ordinariness.

pretty standard

Substitutes 'common' with 'standard', implying conformity to a norm, and 'quite' with 'pretty', indicating a considerable degree.

genuinely typical

Replaces 'common' with 'typical' while substituting 'quite' with 'genuinely' to express more sincerity.

distinctly familiar

Replaces 'common' with 'familiar' and 'quite' with 'distinctly', shifting the focus to recognition rather than frequency.

widely recognised

This focuses on recognition and generality.

typically encountered

This phrase emphasizes the idea of something being usually met or experienced.

FAQs

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

No, the grammatically correct phrasing is "quite common" or "a common". The inclusion of "a" before "quite common" is generally considered incorrect in standard English.

What does "quite common" mean?

"Quite common" means something is fairly frequent or usual, but not necessarily universal. It implies a noticeable degree of commonness.

What are some alternatives to "a quite common" that I can use in my writing?

While "a quite common" isn't standard, you can use phrases like "fairly typical", "reasonably frequent", or "moderately prevalent" to express a similar idea.

How can I remember to use "quite common" correctly?

Think of "quite" as an intensifier that modifies the adjective "common" directly. Therefore, it doesn't require an article before it when used in this context. Remember, "a common occurrence" or "quite common", but not "a quite common".