a somewhat common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a somewhat common" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is relatively frequent or typical, but not universally so. Example: "This type of error is a somewhat common occurrence in programming."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

He laughed it off as a somewhat common occurrence.

The New York Times

MADE THE "A" LIST, a somewhat common phrase, is also making its debut here.

The New York Times

After some panicked Googling, I discovered that this glitch is a somewhat common bug now plaguing iPhone owners.

The New York Times

That is a somewhat common practice in federal investigations as authorities work their way toward the main subject of an investigation.

The Washington Post

New research demonstrates that Torres, Madonna and McCain's mother, Roberta -- who is still campaigning for her son at the age of 96 -- aren't rare outliers, but rather examples of a somewhat common phenomenon.

The Washington Post

Durbin and Schumer live together — a somewhat common practice among politicians who are in Washington only a few days a week — in a sparsely furnished two-bedroom house near the Capitol that is owned by a third roommate, Representative George Miller, of California.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

This method describes a somewhat-common party trick and YouTube phenomenon, but is not something that should be attempted without extreme care and adult supervision.

WikiHow

While such a political tactic is somewhat common amongst the Stalinist left, it's not as frequent within anarchist circles that Chomsky claims to be a part of.

Huffington Post

Somewhat common is a step-up structure, in which the coupon rises as the bond approaches maturity.

Forbes

It's a question that's become somewhat common despite their televised award show appearances and international travels delivering speeches on the movement.

Huffington Post

The group uses a common jazz instrumentation -- trumpet, saxophone, rhythm section -- to make a somewhat less common amalgam of urban-signifying genres, from electro-pop to punk-rock to hip-hop.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for an international audience, be mindful that connotations of "common" can vary. Provide context to clarify your intended meaning, especially if the topic is culturally sensitive.

Common error

Avoid using "a somewhat common" when describing truly rare events. This can mislead readers and undermine your credibility. If something is infrequent, use terms like "rare" or "occasional" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a somewhat common" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It's used to describe a noun, indicating that the noun's characteristic is neither rare nor ubiquitous. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from varied sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

33%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a somewhat common" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe something that occurs with moderate frequency. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and is used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While "common", it's not so prevalent as to be considered typical. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the frequency you intend to convey and avoid overstating the rarity of an event. Consider alternative phrases like "fairly typical" or "moderately usual" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fairly typical

Implies a slightly higher degree of commonness than "a somewhat common".

a reasonably frequent

Focuses on the frequency of occurrence, suggesting it happens often enough to be expected.

a moderately usual

Highlights the usualness or ordinariness of something, implying it's not exceptional.

a relatively typical

Similar to "a fairly typical" but with a more formal tone.

a generally known

Shifts the focus from frequency to awareness or familiarity.

a fairly widespread

Emphasizes the extent to which something is distributed or prevalent.

a relatively known

Suggests that the concept or item in question is familiar to a considerable portion of the population.

a typical to some extent

Highlights how the topic is representative to certain aspects.

a kind of ordinary

Focuses on the ordinary or unremarkable nature of something.

a little bit familiar

Indicates a low degree of familiarity, suggesting that something is known but not widely.

FAQs

How can I use "a somewhat common" in a sentence?

Use "a somewhat common" to describe something that is neither rare nor ubiquitous. For example, "That type of error is "a somewhat common" occurrence in software development."

What phrases can I use instead of "a somewhat common"?

You can use phrases like "fairly typical", "moderately usual", or "reasonably frequent" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a somewhat common" or "a very common"?

The choice depends on the actual frequency. Use ""a somewhat common"" when something happens more than rarely but is not the norm. If it's highly prevalent, use "a very common".

What's the difference between "a somewhat common" and "a relatively common"?

"A somewhat common" suggests a moderate level of frequency without specific comparison. "A relatively common" implies a comparison to something else, suggesting it's common in relation to that other thing.