a usual custom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a usual custom" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a practice or tradition that is commonly followed in a particular context or culture. Example: "In our community, it is a usual custom to celebrate the harvest festival with a big feast."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

I found new fellows, I wrote letters to people of Europe and I received many postcards from everywhere, because this was an usual custom among students of Esperanto: use and practice the language corresponding with other students.

BBC

That's a reversal of the usual custom in Philadelphia.

University of Pennsylvania

He hid from reporters on his plane, and even dodged his usual custom of giving a reporter a birthday hug.

The New York Times

"There was never any obligation to hand over Hong Kong to China... and I have absolutely no doubt that it was Foreign Office officials abiding by their usual custom of ingratiating themselves with a foreign government with which we could have valuable trading relations when democracy was the second consideration," he said.

BBC

The usual custom was to lead the hot air from a hypocaust into a single vertical flue in the wall of the room to be heated, through which the hot air and smoke escaped into the open air.

Britannica

We follow the usual custom in logic of treating this as a predicate of sentences.

SEP

Although the executioner, John of Baggeham, considered both men to be already dead when they fell to the ground they were nevertheless hanged again, "as an insult to their kin", and because it was the usual custom that hanged men could not be removed from the gallows without the lord's permission.

Wikipedia

This was a little more difficult, but Franklin finally decided we would follow the usual custom of the United States — the king would sit on my right and the queen at Franklin's right.

The New Yorker

The process departed from the usual custom in Albany of governing by three men in a room: Mr. Pataki; Senator Joseph L. Bruno, the Republican majority leader; and Sheldon Silver, the Democratic Assembly speaker, who normally decide issues and get their conferences to rubber-stamp them.

The New York Times

Samuel Gompers, who was president of the American Federation of Labor and a leading figure of the anti-tipping movement, admitted that he "followed the usual custom of giving tips".

The New York Times - Magazine

Or should we follow our usual custom?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, consider replacing "a usual custom" with more specific terms such as "common practice" or "standard procedure" to provide readers with a clearer understanding of the context.

Common error

Avoid using "a usual custom" in formal writing where more precise and impactful vocabulary is preferred. Options such as "established protocol" or "standard practice" offer a more professional and authoritative tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a usual custom" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes a common or typical practice. According to Ludwig AI, it's deemed grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a usual custom" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a common or typical practice within a specific context. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's worth noting that its frequency is low, suggesting that alternative phrases like "a common practice" or "a standard procedure" may be more commonly encountered or preferred for clarity in certain writing contexts. When crafting content, consider if a more precise term could better convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a common practice

Replaces "usual" with "common", emphasizing the widespread nature of the practice.

a typical tradition

Substitutes "custom" with "tradition", highlighting the established and time-honored aspect of the practice, while "typical" replaces "usual".

a standard procedure

Replaces "custom" with "procedure", indicating a more formal and regulated practice; "standard" replaces "usual".

an established norm

Uses "norm" instead of "custom", implying a socially accepted standard.

a general habit

Substitutes "custom" with "habit", focusing on individual or group behaviors; "general" replaces "usual".

a regular routine

Replaces "custom" with "routine", suggesting a consistent and repeated pattern of behavior; "regular" replaces "usual".

a prevailing practice

Emphasizes the widespread and dominant nature of the practice, using "prevailing" to suggest it is currently the most common.

a recognized convention

Replaces "custom" with "convention", highlighting an agreement or understanding on what is typically done.

a commonplace activity

Substitutes "custom" with "activity", focusing on actions that are frequently performed; "commonplace" replaces "usual".

a typical way

Simplifies the phrase to indicate a standard or expected method of doing something; "typical" replaces "usual" and "way" replaces "custom".

FAQs

What does "a usual custom" mean?

"A usual custom" refers to a practice or tradition that is commonly followed or generally accepted within a particular group, community, or culture. It signifies something that is typically done in a specific context.

What are some alternatives to "a usual custom"?

You can use alternatives like "a common practice", "a typical tradition", or "a standard procedure" depending on the context.

How can I use "a usual custom" in a sentence?

You can say, "In our family, it's "a usual custom" to exchange gifts on Christmas morning" or "Following "a usual custom", the meeting was adjourned after the vote".

Is it better to say "usual custom" or "common custom"?

Both "usual custom" and "common custom" are acceptable, but "common custom" might be preferred for its slightly wider usage and immediate clarity. "Usual custom" can sometimes sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned.