are common to both

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are common to both" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing similarities or shared characteristics between two or more subjects. Example: "The themes of love and loss are common to both novels, highlighting the human experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yes, Ellena had replied, you're smelling molecules that are common to both.

The New Yorker

All behaviour patterns (except the precopulatory ones) are common to both sexes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Horns that are stout, sharp, and bent slightly backward are common to both sexes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The epics of Köroğlu are common to both Iranian and Turkish tradition.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Riyadh in turn dismisses Isis as khawarij, or deviants, though beheadings and other sharia punishments are common to both.

The Guardian

Crevasses are common to both the accumulation and ablation zones of mountain glaciers, as well as of ice sheets.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The factors that are common to both are the short growing season, low temperatures, and high winds.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Respiratory symptoms are common to both diseases.

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

The remaining simulation parameters are common to both scenarios.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

These trends are common to both poor and good selective catalysts.

Chemical Engineering Science

All messages are common to both receivers, i.e., both receivers decode (m0, m1, m2, m3).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are common to both", ensure that the subjects being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "are common to both" when comparing more than two items. It is specifically designed for comparisons between two entities only.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are common to both" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing the shared characteristics or attributes of two distinct entities. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various sentence structures to highlight similarities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

15%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are common to both" is a versatile construct used to highlight shared characteristics between two entities, as affirmed by Ludwig. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it maintains a neutral register. When writing, ensure you're comparing only two subjects and clearly define them. Alternatives such as "are shared by both" or "both have in common" offer similar meanings with slight shifts in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are shared by both

Emphasizes the act of sharing rather than a static commonality.

are found in both

Highlights the presence of something in both entities.

both share

Focuses on the subjects performing the sharing, a more active voice.

both have in common

Highlights the 'having' aspect of shared attributes.

are features of both

Highlights attributes present in both entities.

are mutually inclusive

Indicates overlap or inclusion, implying shared characteristics.

pertain to both

Indicates relevance or applicability to two subjects.

are exhibited by both

Emphasizes the display or manifestation of a trait in both entities.

are typical of both

Implies that the characteristic is representative of each entity.

are characteristic of both

Similar to 'typical' but focuses on defining characteristics.

FAQs

How can I use "are common to both" in a sentence?

Use "are common to both" to indicate shared attributes between two subjects. For example, "Certain symptoms "are common to both" diseases" highlights a similarity between two illnesses.

What are some alternatives to saying "are common to both"?

You can use alternatives like "are shared by both", "both share", or "both have in common" depending on the desired emphasis.

Is it correct to use "are common to both" when discussing more than two items?

No, the phrase "are common to both" is specifically for comparing two items. For more than two, consider using phrases like "are common among all" or "are shared by all".

What's the difference between "are common to both" and "are characteristic of both"?

"Are common to both" simply indicates shared attributes, while "are characteristic of both" implies that these attributes are typical or defining features of each subject.