as commonly believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as commonly believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a statement that reflects a widely held belief or assumption. Example: "As commonly believed, the Earth revolves around the Sun, which is a fundamental concept in astronomy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Yes, the midlife crisis is not as widespread as commonly believed.

The New York Times

(Destroying banknotes is not an offence, as commonly believed, though defacing them is).

The Guardian

The results of the stress tests showed that the banks were not in as dire shape as commonly believed.

The New Yorker

The origin is not, as commonly believed, in the short, high-pitched pulsing sound emitted by sonar.

The New York Times - Magazine

Indeed, it was the class of 1984, not 2011 as commonly believed, that faced the high point of youth unemployment.

The Guardian

But, a new study suggests that skipping breakfast may not be as bad for you as commonly believed.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

This supports the assertion that CAM may not be as expensive as is commonly believed, as concluded by a large Canadian study which found that CAM was less than CAN$20 in 37% of cases and more than CAN$60 in only 6% [ 27].

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Highly sociable people, on average, did not live longer than less gregarious ones as is commonly believed, because they tended to drink, smoke and party more.

The New York Times - Magazine

The olive branch that signified the end of the biblical flood, she suggests, could just as well have been a sprig of rhododendron from the densely covered peaks near Mount Ararat, and a John Wootton painting of a girl in a landscape of dark green, pink-flowered bushes might depict rhododendrons rather than roses, as is commonly believed.

The New York Times - Books

In their provocative and lucidly written "Big Brain: The Origins and Future of Human Intelligence," Gary Lynch and Richard Granger argue that our brains did not become larger to keep up with our growing intelligence, as is commonly believed, but rather for biological reasons, probably having to do with enhanced olfactory capability.

The New York Times

It follows from these features, that the strength, and especially the ductility, of structural concrete members depend on the local triaxial stress conditions that inevitably develop in the compressive zone just prior to failure, rather than on stress-redistributions due to post-peak material characteristics, as is commonly believed.

Engineering Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, ensure that the statement following it is indeed a widely held belief. Otherwise, the phrase may lose its impact.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice when using "as commonly believed". Instead of writing "The issue is not as dire as is commonly believed", opt for a more direct and active construction like "The issue isn't as dire as commonly believed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as commonly believed" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a statement by indicating that it contradicts or challenges a widely held assumption. This usage aligns with Ludwig AI's analysis, showing how it sets up a contrast to emphasize a different perspective.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as commonly believed" is a valuable tool for introducing statements that challenge or offer alternative perspectives to widely held assumptions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently used across diverse contexts, from news and media to academia and science. When incorporating this phrase into your writing, ensure that you are indeed addressing a genuine common belief and provide a clear and well-supported counterargument. Be mindful of avoiding overuse of passive voice and strive for direct, active constructions to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as is generally thought

Replaces "believed" with "thought", offering a more conversational tone.

as is widely accepted

Emphasizes broad agreement rather than just belief.

as is popularly understood

Focuses on the common understanding among the general public.

as is conventionally held

Highlights the traditional or established nature of the belief.

as is traditionally assumed

Underscores the long-standing nature of the assumption.

contrary to popular belief

Introduces a contrast to what people generally think.

contrary to what most people think

Directly challenges the common perception.

the conventional wisdom suggests

Frames the belief as a form of established but potentially uncritical knowledge.

the prevailing assumption is

Highlights the dominant assumption, implying it might be subject to question.

it is often said that

Introduces a commonly repeated statement, without necessarily endorsing it.

FAQs

How can I use "as commonly believed" in a sentence?

Use "as commonly believed" to introduce a statement that is widely accepted but may not be entirely accurate. For example, "As commonly believed, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but some studies suggest otherwise."

What phrases are similar to "as commonly believed"?

You can use alternatives such as "as is generally thought", "as is widely accepted", or "as is popularly understood" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "as commonly believed" or "as is commonly believed"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "as commonly believed" is more concise and frequently used. "As is commonly believed" is slightly more formal and adds a bit more emphasis.

When should I avoid using "as commonly believed"?

Avoid using "as commonly believed" if the statement you are introducing is not genuinely a widely held belief. Using it incorrectly can undermine your credibility. Make sure it's something most people assume to be true.